Venezuelan man survives eight days trapped under rubble

Rescue forces freed a man who was trapped for eight days in the debris of a collapsed building in La Guaira state, Venezuela.

An AFP correspondent in Venezuela reported that on 2/7, Hernan Gil was rescued by international teams from the debris of a seven-story building in Catia La Mar, a coastal city in La Guaira state, Venezuela, after being trapped for eight days.

The 43-year-old security guard was buried under 8,6 meters of debris when the shopping center where he worked collapsed during last week's double earthquake.

Search and rescue teams found Hernan Gil by deploying a camera into the building's collapsed basement. They observed him waving through a small gap in the thick concrete and debris. Rescuers established contact and used an intravenous tube to deliver water, nutrients, and medicine.

Hernan Gil trapped under rubble in Catia La Mar city, Venezuela. Video: BoCH

A video released by the Chilean Fire Department (BoCH) on 2/7 showed Gil's head emerging from the rubble, wearing a mask with one bloodshot eye. BoCH described the rescue as highly complex, citing the building's unstable structure and the constant threat of falling debris.

El Salvador President Nayib Bukele stated that the tunnel dug by rescuers to reach Gil repeatedly collapsed. He noted, "International rescue teams worked tirelessly to reinforce the tunnel, but still couldn't secure it."

Sebastian Mocorquer, an official with the United Nations (UN) Disaster Assessment and Coordination team, called the rescue "miraculous". Experts typically consider 72 hours post-disaster as the golden period for finding survivors.

Usbimar Gonzales, Gil's wife, expressed immense grief after the double earthquake, fearing her husband had perished. "When I heard he was alive, I saw a ray of hope," she stated. "He held on like a hero. Our children are waiting for their father at home."

Rescue forces extract Hernan Gil from the rubble on 2/7. Photo: BoCH

La Guaira state bore the brunt of Venezuela's double earthquake on the evening of 24/6, registering magnitudes of 7,2 and 7,5. These were the strongest earthquakes in Venezuela since 1900, causing 2.295 deaths and over 11.000 injuries. The UN estimates approximately 50.000 people remain missing.

Venezuela's interim President Delcy Rodriguez on 1/7 declared a week of national mourning for the double earthquake victims, starting at 18:00 on that day.

The World Food Program (WFP) on 30/6 appealed for 50 million USD to provide food for approximately 500.000 people in Venezuela for three months. Health officials also warned of an increasing risk of disease outbreaks.