A miraculous rescue took place in La Guaira, Venezuela, as a three-year-old boy was found alive after being trapped under the debris of the Los Corales Garden 1 building for six days. This remarkable survival story emerges in the aftermath of the devastating earthquakes that struck the country on June 24.
The Venezuelan Ministry of Communication and Information confirmed the boy's rescue, identifying him as Klieber Morán, and described the event as nothing short of a miracle.
The extraction was carried out by a rescue team from Jordan, one of over 45 international teams dispatched to the disaster-stricken area.
Once freed from the rubble, the child was taken by ambulance by personnel from the Operational Zone for Damage Assessment and Needs Analysis of the Sucre State to receive medical care.
Klieber's rescue happened just hours after another emotional recovery: On Monday night, teams from the Dominican Republic, with assistance from Venezuela and Ecuador, successfully rescued Carlos Miguel Colmenares, a 12-year-old boy who had been trapped for more than 122 hours beneath the rubble of the La Estrella building in Macuto, also located in La Guaira.
During the operation, which lasted six hours, rescuers used sonic equipment to detect signs of life and provided the child with oxygen and hydration through tubes before finally freeing him.
These incredible rescues add to a series of extraordinary survivals recorded in the week following the disaster: An 18-day-old baby and his mother were rescued on June 25 after being trapped for 32 hours in Catia La Mar, and another 10-month-old baby and an 11-year-old boy were pulled out alive on June 28 in the same coastal area.
The catastrophe was triggered by two earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, striking Venezuela on June 24, just 39 seconds apart, with epicenters in the states of Carabobo and Yaracuy.
La Guaira was the most severely affected region, with 855 buildings damaged and 189 completely collapsed.
The official death toll has reached 1,943, while the United Nations estimates over 50,000 people missing and calculates that up to 6.76 million people have been affected, with direct damages valued at $6.7 billion.
More than 3,300 foreign rescuers from 45 international delegations, along with 140 search dogs, continue their efforts in the area, hoping to locate more survivors amidst the devastation.
Key Facts About the Recent Earthquakes in Venezuela
What was the magnitude of the earthquakes that hit Venezuela?
The earthquakes measured 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, occurring just 39 seconds apart.
How many buildings were affected in La Guaira?
In La Guaira, 855 buildings were damaged, with 189 collapsing completely.
How many people are estimated to be missing following the earthquakes?
The United Nations estimates that over 50,000 individuals are missing in the aftermath of the earthquakes.