A remarkable rescue operation in Venezuela has ended in success after emergency teams pulled a man alive from the rubble of a collapsed building eight days after devastating earthquakes struck the country.
Hernán Gil was rescued from beneath approximately 140 tonnes of debris in the city of Catia La Mar following an intensive multinational effort involving rescue teams from Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal, and the United States.
Gil, a security guard, had been trapped since twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. Authorities report that at least 2,595 people have died, while thousands more remain missing as search and recovery efforts continue.
Rescuers first detected signs of life when Costa Rican paramedic Allan Madrigal heard faint cries coming from beneath the rubble. Initially uncertain whether he had truly heard a survivor, Madrigal asked a colleague to verify the sound before emergency teams launched an intensive operation to reach Gil.
The rescue mission lasted more than 100 hours after Gil was located, with crews carefully removing debris and constructing access routes through unstable rubble. Several access tunnels reportedly collapsed during the operation, underscoring the risks faced by both rescuers and the trapped survivor.
According to emergency officials, Gil had been working inside a small concrete security booth located in a parking area near the Galerias Playa Grande shopping complex when the earthquakes struck. The booth is believed to have formed a protective shell around him, shielding him from the massive weight of the collapsed structure above.
Throughout the rescue effort, medical teams supplied Gil with water, oxygen, and intravenous fluids while maintaining communication through small openings in the debris. Video footage captured during the operation showed rescuers speaking directly with him through a camera inserted into the rubble.
Rescue workers described Gil as remarkably resilient and positive despite spending more than a week trapped underground. Mexican Red Cross official Marco Antonio Franco said Gil remained cheerful throughout the ordeal, often encouraging the rescue teams and discussing his family with them.
Following his extraction, Gil was transported on a stretcher wearing an oxygen mask and neck support. Medical personnel reported that he appeared to be in surprisingly stable condition considering the length of time he spent trapped beneath the debris.
The successful rescue has provided a rare moment of hope amid the tragedy caused by one of Venezuela’s deadliest natural disasters in recent history. Emergency crews continue searching through collapsed buildings across affected areas as families await news of missing loved ones.