Fabio Ignacio Bastardo Navarro, a nine-year-old boy from Venezuela, has been trapped beneath the ruins of the Tahití Residences in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, following the devastating double earthquake on June 24. On Friday, rescue teams deployed thermal drones and search dogs in hopes of finding a way to rescue him alive.
Spanish rescue teams conducted aerial thermal scans while other experts used specially trained dogs to detect any signs of life in the 12-story building that collapsed in this northern coastal town of Venezuela.
The boy is reportedly about six meters away from rescuers hailing from El Salvador, Argentina, and other countries. The official rescue operation began at 11:00 PM local time on Wednesday, July 1, as reported by Civil Protection authorities.
The family's direct accounts keep hope alive. Rebeca, the boy's grandmother, told EFE that last Sunday, Fabio responded to calls with a whistle, and on Friday morning, they heard noises resembling knocks from under the debris. Venezuelan rescuers also claimed to have detected signs of life.
Before professional teams arrived on Sunday, the family faced the daunting task of sifting through the building remnants alone. "Alone" was the word the grandmother used to describe those initial, anguished days.
Venezuelan journalist Román Camacho reported at 1:00 AM on Friday that only family members and Venezuelan volunteers remained at the site, as international teams had temporarily withdrawn. Earlier, at 7:28 PM on Thursday, he announced, "There is life, there is still hope. Rescue teams are beginning efforts to save a child and two others alive at the Tahití residences."
Fabio's father is enduring a heart-wrenching situation. In addition to waiting for his son's rescue, he had to confront false information spread by an influencer and some journalists claiming that Fabio had already been saved, prompting him to return to the site to confirm the truth. His older son was spared by fate, having gone to do homework with ten friends that day, all unharmed.
It is believed that Fabio is accompanied by a deceased person, possibly his mother. Furthermore, a rescuer indicated that there might be at least six other individuals trapped beneath the Tahití rubble.
The operation faces a critical challenge: the building's structure is dangerously unstable, requiring teams to secure it before proceeding further. Rescuers acknowledge that "this could take some time."
Fabio's situation follows the successful rescue of Hernán Alberto Gil Flores, a 43-year-old security guard pulled alive on Thursday after spending eight days under the debris of a shopping center in Catia La Mar. This operation, lasting over 72 hours and involving teams from seven countries, marked the 13th successful rescue by international crews since the disaster's onset, bringing hope to those affected.
Nevertheless, experts caution that the likelihood of discovering survivors diminishes as time progresses.
The catastrophic double earthquake on June 24, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 separated by just 39 seconds, officially resulted in at least 2,595 fatalities and 12,400 injuries, according to Venezuelan authorities. The UN reports as many as 50,000 people missing nationwide, with La Guaira at the epicenter of the devastation, where over 100 buildings have collapsed.
Key Questions About the Venezuelan Earthquake Rescue Efforts
What technology is being used in the rescue efforts?
Rescue teams are utilizing thermal drones and specially trained search dogs to detect signs of life under the rubble.
How are family members contributing to the rescue operation?
Family members have been actively involved from the beginning, providing firsthand accounts and even participating in initial search efforts before professional teams arrived.
What challenges do rescuers face in reaching Fabio?
The unstable structure of the collapsed building poses a significant risk, requiring careful measures to stabilize it before progressing with the rescue.