Emergency workers in Venezuela achieved a remarkable rescue on Tuesday, pulling a two-year-old boy from under rubble six days after destructive earthquakes struck the region. This marked the sole reported survivor extraction on the sixth day of recovery efforts.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez shared in a Telegram update that Jordanian rescue workers were instrumental in freeing the child from a collapsed structure in La Guaira, the area most severely affected by last week's seismic events.
The child, officially identified as Klieber Moran, had endured six days beneath the debris before his rescue, according to Rodríguez.
Moran was promptly transported to a medical facility for necessary care.
Ongoing Search and Rising Toll
National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez expressed a continued sense of optimism during a televised address on Tuesday regarding the potential for discovering more survivors.
"We must cling to the hope of continuing to find people alive beneath the rubble," Jorge Rodríguez stated. "Early this morning, a 2-year-old boy was rescued and is currently receiving care at a health center in Caracas."
Rescue operations have been ongoing since last Wednesday when two powerful earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, hit Venezuela's northern coastal region.
Venezuelan authorities reported on Tuesday that the death toll from the dual quakes had climbed to 1,943, with over 10,500 individuals sustaining injuries. This figure represents an increase from the 1,719 fatalities reported on Monday.
Tuesday's successful rescue provided another ray of hope amidst the widespread devastation impacting the South American nation.
Previously, on Saturday, the U.S. State Department released video footage depicting American search-and-rescue teams successfully extracting an infant alive from beneath collapsed structures in Venezuela.
The State Department commented on the event via X, stating, "Against impossible odds, hope endures."
International Aid Arrives
Separately, on Tuesday, a humanitarian aid shipment from the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) arrived in Venezuela, bringing 47 metric tons of essential supplies.
The United Nations confirmed that the consignment included emergency health kits designed for urgent medical treatment, such as provisions for safe childbirths, neonatal care, and the prevention and treatment of various diseases.
Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams originating from Virginia, California, and Florida were deployed to Venezuela on Friday to assist in the search for survivors within damaged buildings.
According to information from the State Department, these three USAR teams comprise a total of 312 personnel and 18 canine units. The multidisciplinary teams consist of firefighters, medical professionals, structural engineers, and specialized canine search experts, arriving with more than 200,000 pounds of advanced rescue equipment.