Man Rescued Alive After Eight Days Under Rubble from Venezuela Earthquake as Death Toll Reaches 2,595

Hernán Gil was rescued alive after enduring eight days trapped beneath the rubble of an earthquake, as the death toll in Venezuela climbed to 2,595.

A man has been rescued alive after spending eight days trapped beneath the rubble of a building that collapsed following twin earthquakes in Venezuela, an event that authorities have characterized as a “living miracle.”

Emergency rescue teams successfully freed Hernán Gil more than 100 hours after detecting signs of life beneath approximately 140 tons of debris.

Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, visited Gil in the hospital on Thursday, praising his survival as remarkable. In a video shared on social media, she referred to him as “a living miracle.”

Gil’s rescue occurs as Venezuela continues to deal with the severe consequences of the twin earthquakes that hit on 24 June. As of Thursday evening, authorities confirmed that 2,595 individuals had lost their lives, while tens of thousands are still unaccounted for.

Addressing a press conference, Rodríguez characterized the disaster as “a natural tragedy on a scale we never imagined.”

She also rejected the criticism that the government had been sluggish in its response to the catastrophe.

“We’ve exerted every effort possible, and we will persist in doing everything within our means and beyond,” Rodríguez stated to reporters, emphasizing that thousands of officials were dispatched right after the earthquakes.

The meticulous rescue operation involved emergency teams from Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal, and the United States.

A Chilean firefighter involved in the mission described the effort as “undoubtedly the most complex and technically challenging that I’ve had to face.”

Costa Rican Red Cross paramedic Allan Madrigal, who initially heard Gil’s faint cries for help on Sunday, reflected on the emotional moment of discovery.

“It was an emotional moment,” Madrigal said, sharing that he initially questioned what he had heard and sought confirmation from a colleague to ensure he “wasn’t just imagining it.”

From that moment, rescuers tirelessly dedicated themselves to reaching Gil.

The security guard was stationed inside a small concrete booth in the basement parking area next to the Galerias Playa Grande mall in Catia La Mar when the earthquakes occurred. The booth is thought to have created a protective barrier around him, safeguarding him from the immense weight of the fallen structure.

Another Costa Rican Red Cross worker disclosed just prior to Gil’s rescue that, “He has informed us that he does not even have a crushed nail.”

During the operation, rescuers provided Gil with water and set up an intravenous drip while engineers and emergency personnel meticulously removed the unstable debris.

The rescue faced ongoing challenges as parts of the narrow access tunnels, excavated to reach him, collapsed multiple times, creating considerable dangers for both Gil and the emergency teams.

After days of digging, rescuers finally made visual contact overnight by using a small camera inserted through the rubble.

Video footage from within the collapsed structure captured a Chilean firefighter requesting Githat Gil turn his head towardhe camera. One of Gil’s eyes looked bloodshot, and he wore a protective face mask that rescuers had previously passed through a small opening to shield him from dust and debris.

The firefighter instructed him to wear protective goggles while teams continued to remove rubble around him.

Marco Antonio Franco of the Mexican Red Cross described Gil as a “cheerful man” despite the ordeal.

In an interview with the Mexican news outlet Milenio, Franco mentioned that the survivor “even requested hydration drinks in specific flavors he enjoys,” and added that “naturally, we obliged him.”

“He drives us forward, urging us to continue.” He acknowledges our team members, expressing, “How nice that you returned and that you’re with me again,” Franco added.

Franco noted that rescuers engaged in continuous conversations with Gil during the operation, talking about his family and the status of the rescue to uplift his spirits.

For Madrigal, participating in his first international rescue mission proved to be a transformative experience.

“The young man who arrived here a week ago is not the same one who will head back to Costa Rica, trust me,” he informed the reporters.