A man was rescued alive from the rubble of a collapsed shopping centre in Venezuela on Friday, eight days after a series of earthquakes devastated the region. The survivor, identified as 38-year-old Carlos Hernández, was extracted from the debris of the multi-storey mall in the coastal city of Cumaná, according to local officials.
Rescue operation details
The rescue operation involved over 50 firefighters and military personnel working through the night after detecting signs of life using seismic listening devices. Hernández was found trapped in a void beneath concrete slabs, with limited access to water but no food. He was conscious and able to communicate with rescuers, who provided him with fluids and medical attention before carefully cutting through steel and concrete to free him.
According to the state-run news agency AVN, Hernández was in stable condition and was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. His rescue was hailed as a miracle by local authorities, given the extent of the destruction.
Earthquake impact
The 7.3-magnitude earthquake on June 25 caused widespread damage in Cumaná and surrounding areas, with the shopping centre collapsing entirely. The death toll from the quakes has risen to at least 42, with hundreds injured. Search-and-rescue efforts continued for days, but hope had faded for finding more survivors.
"This is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the dedication of our rescue teams," said Interior Minister Carmen Meléndez in a statement. "We never gave up hope."
Ongoing challenges
Despite the successful rescue, thousands remain displaced as aftershocks continue to rattle the region. The Venezuelan government has deployed military engineers to assess structural damage and clear debris. International aid, including search dogs and listening equipment from Mexico and Chile, has been arriving to assist in the recovery effort.
Hernández's family, who had been waiting at the site, expressed overwhelming relief. "We thought we had lost him," his sister María Hernández told reporters. "This is a miracle."
