Three-year-old rescued alive six days after Venezuela earthquakes
A three-year-old boy has been rescued alive from the rubble six days after devastating earthquakes struck northern Venezuela, offering a rare glimmer of hope as the country’s death toll climbed to at least 1,943.
The child, identified as Klieber Morán, was pulled from the debris in La Guaira by a Jordanian search-and-rescue team. He received first aid at the scene before being transferred to a hospital in Caracas, where authorities said his condition was stable.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez described the dramatic rescue as “a source of hope for our people.” National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez added: “Klieber’s rescue shows there is still hope of continuing to find people alive,” noting that local and international rescue teams were continuing to search collapsed buildings while shelters had been opened in the worst-hit areas.
The rescue came well beyond the critical 72-hour survival window after the twin earthquakes, which measured magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5. Authorities said the disaster has injured more than 10,000 people, left tens of thousands unaccounted for and damaged or destroyed about 58,870 buildings, according to preliminary NASA satellite analysis.
The United Nations warned that the humanitarian situation is deteriorating rapidly. The UN refugee agency (UNHCR) said food shortages were worsening and basic services had largely collapsed in La Guaira.
“Community tensions are rising as access to assistance remains constrained,” the agency said as it appealed for an initial $15 million to provide emergency relief, protection and temporary shelter for 30,000 people over the next six months.
Residents also described growing desperation as aid struggled to reach affected communities. “Some supplies are being distributed but sometimes people nearly kill each other for food… it’s like a cockfight,” 18-year-old street vendor Daniela Armas told AFP.
The World Health Organization warned that Venezuela now faces an increased risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles and diphtheria, as the healthcare system comes under severe strain. Meanwhile, international rescue teams continue searching for survivors while thousands of families await news of missing relatives.(Daily Sun)
