Miraculous rescues keep hope alive in Venezuela as time runs out

Rescue teams continue to work against the clock in the areas most affected by the double earthquake that shook Venezuela, with dwindling hope of finding survivors. Four days after the quakes, the toll is dramatic: 1,450 dead, 3,150 injured, and thousands missing.

Although the possibility of finding survivors alive drastically decreases with the passage of time, the last few hours have brought images of hope. Several rescues, some under extreme conditions, have been received as genuine miracles by the emergency teams deployed on the ground. One of the most notable cases is that of an 18-day-old baby rescued along with his mother after spending more than 72 hours under the rubble in La Guaira. The operation, of extreme difficulty, was possible thanks to access through small air pockets among the debris.

A man and his teenage son have also been recovered alive, located by rescue teams after hearing cries from under the remains of a collapsed building. The rescue lasted for hours to guarantee the stability of the structure.

Another case that has moved the country is that of an 11-year-old boy rescued alive after spending three days trapped under the rubble. According to emergency teams, the boy would have survived because he hid inside a closet during the double earthquake, which would have been key to resisting until the arrival of the rescue teams.

Any noise can be key to locating missing people. This is the case of a 60-year-old woman who was located after tapping on the structure where she was trapped. After three days under the rubble, rescue teams found her, immobilized her, and evacuated her on a stretcher, to the applause of those present. The operation, which required more than eleven hours of work, had the support of the Spanish UME and other international teams.

These are cases that rescue teams describe as exceptional. The first 72 hours after a collapse mark the most plausible boundary between life and death, although survivors may still appear beyond that if they are trapped in protected spaces within the rubble or in an air pocket that allows them to breathe. Therefore, the priority remains to locate people alive before time runs out completely.