"We have rescued Nayarit Colmenare. Now the challenge is to help her recover. God helped us save her life," El Salvador President Nayib Bukele announced on his X account on the evening of 26/6.

He posted a video showing El Salvador's Humanitarian Rescue Unit (UHR) carrying Nayarit, 39, on a stretcher from the rubble of an apartment building in Caraballeda, La Guaira state, northern Venezuela. This area, declared a "disaster zone," sustained the most severe damage from the twin earthquakes on 24/6.

President Bukele previously stated that the UHR located Nayarit trapped on the 6th floor of the apartment building, surrounded by large concrete slabs. Rescuers encouraged Nayarit and worked for 7 continuous hours to extricate her.

Bukele also announced the rescue team found another victim, Camila Sofia Medina Rivas, 15, trapped with her pet on the 9th floor of the collapsed Bahha Mar building in the Caribe municipality, La Guaira state. "Her mother is waiting below with our rescue forces," the El Salvador President stated.

Rescuers will need to break through multiple walls to reach Camila. President Bukele noted that tools and machinery are being transported to clear a path. "With God's help, we will soon successfully rescue her," he expressed.

A few hours later, the President shared a video of a live conversation between a rescuer and the teenager, captioned: "Almost there, Cami!"

"Hello Cami, good afternoon. I am with El Salvador's UHR, and we are here to help you, to get you out as soon as possible. Stay strong," the rescuer said. When the rescuer inquired about her mobility, Camila responded that she could only move her legs slightly within a very cramped space. The rescuer then instructed Camila to tap on surrounding surfaces to identify obstacles. "We are here to do everything we can," the UHR member affirmed.

Multinational search and rescue teams are racing against time to extricate victims trapped in Venezuela's historic earthquake disaster. The twin earthquakes, the strongest measuring 7,5 magnitude, struck northern Venezuela on the evening of 24/6, with an epicenter in Yaracuy state.

Venezuela has reported at least 920 fatalities and over 3.360 injuries. However, the US Geological Survey estimates a 42% probability that the death toll could range from 10.000 to 100.000 people. The United Nations estimates that 6,76 million people have been affected by the earthquake.

Search and rescue team members transport equipment through the rubble of damaged buildings in Catia La Mar, La Guaira state, Venezuela, on 26/6. Photo: AFP

In response to the disaster's devastating scale, El Salvador launched one of its largest humanitarian missions. The nation deployed 300 rescue and medical personnel, along with 6 aircraft transporting 150 tons of equipment and essential supplies to Venezuela. As of 26/6, 188 personnel were actively working on site. At least 17 countries have deployed nearly 1.000 personnel to Venezuela to aid in the search and rescue efforts.

The stories of Nayarit and Camila, continuously updated by President Bukele on social media, have garnered nearly one million views. They have become a profound symbol of international solidarity in the face of Venezuela's most severe seismic tragedy in decades.

Hong Hanh (According to Local10, NYPost)