In a heartening turn of events amidst the devastation caused by recent earthquakes in Venezuela, rescue teams successfully saved three siblings trapped beneath the debris of a collapsed building in La Guaira. This moment of hope emerged from the chaos following the powerful seismic events on Wednesday.
The siblings were found in the Mansión Charaima complex in Caraballeda, where five of the eleven floors crumbled after two earthquakes measuring 7.1 and 7.5 struck the northern region of the country just 39 seconds apart at 6:04 PM local time on June 24.
A widely shared video on social media captured the emotional rescue, showing rescuers pulling the children out one by one amid cheers of relief.
"Come on, child, come this way, come. Get the kids, you hear me. Another girl," one of the rescuers is heard saying as they guided the children to safety.
When asked if they were related, one sibling clearly responded, "We are three. Are you siblings? Yes, we are three."
Once the children were secure, a rescuer exclaimed, "You guys are fine, thank God," followed by another saying, "My Lord, you are merciful."
Devastation and Emergency Response
The city of La Guaira was declared a disaster zone after the quakes, and the rescue of the siblings became a beacon of hope amid a historical catastrophe for Venezuela.
In the same coastal area, another rescue took place where a woman named Aikel Sánchez was saved from the Los Corales building, along with another woman and her father from a different part of the city.
In Caracas, significant damage was reported in areas like Los Palos Grandes, Altamira, and San Bernardino, with at least two buildings—Petunia, a 14-story residential structure, and the Bancaribe building—collapsing. Over 90 structures suffered damage in the state of Miranda.
Interior Minister Diosdado Cabello described "alarming situations" in Los Palos Grandes and Altamira on state television, confirming that "all security and assistance agencies, civil protection, volunteers, firefighters, police, everyone is deployed."
Nationwide Impact and Government Measures
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez declared a constitutional state of emergency, ordering the closure of the Maiquetía International Airport due to "severe structural damage" and suspending the Caracas Metro, the Tuy Valleys Railway, and school classes.
Victim counts were not consolidated in an official report, but the United States Geological Survey estimated a 42% probability of casualties ranging between 10,000 and 100,000, an automated alert projection not equating to an actual count. Rodríguez later reported 164 deaths and over 900 injuries.
Amid widespread grief, a video captured by Anadolu Agency in La Guaira encapsulated the tragedy's magnitude for many families: "Elías' family, brother, they all died."
Understanding the Earthquake Aftermath in Venezuela
How many siblings were rescued from the collapsed building in La Guaira?
Three siblings were successfully rescued from the rubble in La Guaira.
What magnitude were the earthquakes that struck Venezuela?
The earthquakes measured 7.1 and 7.5 in magnitude.
Which areas in Caracas were most affected by the earthquakes?
Los Palos Grandes, Altamira, and San Bernardino experienced significant damage.
What actions did the Venezuelan government take following the earthquakes?
A state of emergency was declared, the Maiquetía International Airport was closed, and public transportation and school classes were suspended.