Key facts
- A three-year-old boy named Klieber Morán was rescued alive from earthquake rubble in Venezuela.
- The rescue occurred six days after the initial earthquakes, which had magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.
- The child was found in La Guaira state and taken to a hospital in Caracas.
- The death toll from the quakes has surpassed 1,943, with over 10,000 injured.
- An estimated 58,870 buildings were damaged or destroyed.
- The UN and WHO have warned of widespread food shortages, breakdown of services, and health risks.
A three-year-old boy, identified as Klieber Morán, has been rescued alive from earthquake rubble in Venezuela six days after the devastating tremors. The rescue, captured in footage released by a Jordanian rescue team, has been hailed as a moment of hope amid widespread destruction.
The earthquakes, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, have resulted in a death toll of 1,943, with over 10,000 people injured and tens of thousands still unaccounted for. Initial satellite data from NASA suggests that approximately 58,870 buildings have been damaged or destroyed.
The child received first aid and was transported to a hospital in Caracas, where his vital signs were reported as good. This rescue occurred well beyond the critical three-day period typically associated with the highest chances of survival for those trapped.
Meanwhile, the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) has warned of critical food shortages and a breakdown of basic services, including communications, in affected areas like La Guaira. The World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted that health services are under extreme pressure, with an increased risk of disease outbreaks due to low vaccination coverage.
International rescue teams from various countries, including the US and Mexico, are continuing their search efforts. Humanitarian aid, including emergency health kits, has begun to arrive in the country.