Venezuela rescuers race against time for earthquake survivors

In Venezuela, the desperate search for life beneath the rubble continues, with rescuers and international teams racing against the clock. Nearly a week after devastating earthquakes struck, the death toll has climbed to almost 2,000, while thousands of injured are being treated in precarious conditions in public hospitals.

The most recent hopeful discovery was a three-year-old boy, miraculously pulled alive after being trapped for nearly six days in La Guaira, the state most ravaged by the tremors. This northern coastal region, bordering Caracas, has borne the brunt of the disaster. In Catia La Mar, a rescue team worked for over thirty hours to extract Hernán Gil, a building security guard found alive in the basement guardhouse. He has been receiving hydration since his location on Sunday.

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descent the probabilities of finding people alive, but people are still being found, so we have to continue.

As the critical hours tick by, a profound silence has fallen over many affected areas. Calls to remain quiet echo through towns in La Guaira, listening intently for any sound that might indicate life beneath the debris. Families cling to hope, but medical personnel, rescuers, and Venezuelan military officials acknowledge that the chances of finding survivors are diminishing.

Spanish military rescuer Alberto Vázquez, part of the UMC deployed since June 26, noted that survival probabilities decrease significantly after 72 hours. However, he stressed that "people are still being found," necessitating continued efforts. Venezuelan Parliament President Jorge Rodríguez reported that 6,461 people have been rescued, with an additional 13,400 to 13,500 having escaped on their own or with family assistance in the initial hours. Meanwhile, hospitals in Caracas are overwhelmed, treating the majority of the 10,571 injured. A pediatrician at the Miguel Pérez Carreño Hospital described patients arriving in critical condition, with at least 60% requiring amputations. The medical staff faces immense exhaustion, with some working sixteen-hour days since the disaster began.

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We have received patients in very bad condition. So bad that many have ended up with some amputation. At least 60% are amputees. We have at least thirty patients (children) since Wednesday.