A three-year-old boy has been rescued alive from the rubble six days after powerful earthquakes devastated parts of Venezuela, offering a rare moment of hope as rescue efforts continue across the country.
According to BBC News, the child, identified as Klieber Morán, was pulled from the debris in La Guaira State by a Jordanian search and rescue team. He was given emergency first aid at the scene before being transferred to a hospital in the capital, Caracas, where officials said he was in stable condition.
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez described the rescue as “a source of hope for our people,” while Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said the successful operation demonstrated that survivors could still be found despite the passage of nearly a week since the disaster struck.
The Jordanian Civil Defence confirmed that the boy’s vital signs were good after his rescue.
Death Toll Continues to Rise
The rescue comes as Venezuela continues to grapple with the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude.
Authorities say at least 1,943 people have died, more than 10,000 have been injured, and tens of thousands remain unaccounted for.
An initial assessment using NASA satellite imagery estimates that nearly 58,900 buildings were either destroyed or severely damaged by the earthquakes.
Humanitarian Crisis Deepens
The United Nations has warned that tens of thousands of survivors urgently require food, shelter and other essential assistance.
La Guaira, one of the worst-affected regions, has experienced widespread destruction, with many residents relying on their own efforts to search for survivors as emergency responders continue rescue operations.
The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said shortages of food have become widespread, essential services have collapsed, and communication networks have been severely disrupted.
“Community tensions are rising as access to assistance remains constrained,” the agency said.
Daniela Armas, an 18-year-old street vendor who was injured during the earthquake, told AFP that aid distributions have become increasingly chaotic.
“Some supplies are being distributed, but sometimes people nearly kill each other for food,” she said.
UNHCR has appealed for an initial $15 million to provide emergency protection, relief supplies and temporary shelter for approximately 30,000 earthquake survivors over the next six months.
Health Concerns Grow
The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that Venezuela’s healthcare system is under immense strain.
WHO spokesperson Christian Lindmeier said there is an increasing risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases, including measles and diphtheria, because of low vaccination coverage and disrupted health services.
International Rescue Efforts Continue
Rescue teams from Jordan, the United States, Mexico and several other countries remain on the ground, using trained search dogs and heavy equipment to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
The United Nations also confirmed that a 47-tonne shipment of humanitarian supplies arrived in Venezuela, including emergency medical kits, maternal and newborn care equipment, and disease-prevention supplies.
Meanwhile, families across the country have begun burying those who lost their lives while many others continue waiting for news of missing relatives.
At a temporary morgue established at La Guaira’s port, survivor Wilker Molalla said he was waiting to identify the remains of several members of his family.
“There were 11 people in my household,” he said. “Only two of us survived because we were at work.”
Authorities say search-and-rescue operations will continue as hopes remain that more survivors may still be found beneath the rubble despite the challenging conditions.
Credit: BBC News
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