Hernán's Miraculous Survival: Over a Week Trapped and Still Holding On

Hernán Alberto Gil Flores, a 44-year-old Venezuelan security guard, has been trapped beneath the rubble of the Galerías Playa Grande shopping center in Catia La Mar, La Guaira, for more than 170 hours. His resilience amidst the devastating seismic disaster in Venezuela has made him a beacon of hope. Rescue teams from at least ten countries are tirelessly working to save him, as reported by Nayib Bukele, the President of El Salvador, via social media.

Hernán was stationed in his security booth when two massive earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, struck northern Venezuela on June 24, 2026. The small booth withstood the collapse of the nine-story building, creating a crucial space that has allowed him to survive under more than 140 tons of debris.

Approximately 100 hours after the quake, Costa Rican rescuer Allan Madrigal from the Costa Rican Red Cross was the first to hear Hernán's voice amidst the wreckage. "It gave me goosebumps because, in this race against time, achieving something like this is incredibly rare. It's not just a ray of light for us, but a symbol of hope. It energized us and renewed our determination to keep fighting," Madrigal expressed to the Costa Rican media outlet Teletica.

Since that discovery, the teams have focused their efforts on digging a tunnel to reach Hernán, providing him with water through a hose to prevent dehydration. Transcriptions from videos shared by Bukele reveal the exchanges between Hernán and the rescuers: "Yes, I'm okay; it's just that the rocks are hurting my back," Hernán responded when asked if he was injured. "No, no, I'm not hurt; it's just that the little rocks are making me... uncomfortable," he clarified.

Challenges and Perseverance in Rescue Efforts

The operation has faced significant challenges. Bukele reported that after 58 hours of continuous work, the initial tunnel experienced several collapses due to structural instability, seismic aftershocks, and rain. "The difficulty is that Hernán is trapped within an extremely unstable nine-story structure, and the tunnel we had excavated has suffered multiple collapses," explained the Salvadoran leader. In light of this, the teams decided to create a second access point from a different location.

Despite these setbacks, communication with Hernán has remained unbroken. Noemí Quiroa, a member of El Salvador's Search and Rescue Team, was among those who maintained direct contact with him during the operation. "Hernán continues to fight, and so do we," wrote Bukele, who has been actively updating the public on the rescue mission.

A Grateful Family Amidst a National Tragedy

Hernán's wife, Gusbimar González, publicly expressed her gratitude for the international rescue efforts. "I want to thank everyone who has contributed, all the rescuers from various countries, especially those from the Red Cross, and particularly Costa Rica, because they were the ones who reached the site and heard my husband's voice, realizing that there were still people alive. This is a miracle, and I will be eternally grateful," she said.

Hernán's ordeal unfolds amid a catastrophe of historic proportions. The June 24 earthquakes represent the most significant seismic disaster in Venezuela in over a century, with 2,295 fatalities reported by the Venezuelan government as of July 1, while the UN estimates up to 50,000 missing individuals.

According to El País, late Wednesday night, Hernán's head began to emerge from the rescue tunnel after nearly 200 hours beneath the rubble, with over 100 people from ten countries involved in the operation.