LA GUAIRA, Venezuela — Rescue workers in Venezuela have recovered an infant alive from beneath the rubble of a collapsed building, offering a rare moment of hope amid the destruction caused by the country’s devastating earthquakes.
The baby, reportedly just 18 days old, was found alive after spending more than 32 hours trapped beneath the debris of a collapsed residential building in La Guaira, one of the areas hardest hit by the disaster. Rescue teams and volunteers carefully pulled the infant from the rubble during a late-night operation that drew applause and emotional reactions from residents and emergency workers.
Videos circulating on social media showed rescuers working under floodlights as they passed the child, wrapped in a blanket, through a human chain before medical personnel examined the infant. Reports indicate that the baby did not suffer major injuries despite being trapped under the collapsed structure for more than a day. The child’s mother was rescued alive approximately one hour later and was taken to a hospital for treatment.
The dramatic rescue comes after powerful twin earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude struck northern Venezuela, causing widespread destruction across several communities. The coastal city of La Guaira experienced some of the most severe damage, with numerous buildings collapsing and thousands of residents displaced.
Emergency responders, local volunteers, and international rescue teams have continued search operations as authorities work to locate survivors trapped beneath damaged structures. The earthquakes have left hundreds dead and thousands injured, while many families remain displaced and in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.
Witnesses described the rescue of the infant as one of the most emotional moments since the disaster began. Medical personnel suggested that the baby’s survival may have been possible because the mother protected the child during the collapse.
As rescue efforts continue, the survival of the infant has become a symbol of hope for many Venezuelans struggling to recover from one of the country’s most devastating natural disasters in recent years.
