Key facts
- Rescuers in Venezuela successfully extracted a father and son trapped for four days after earthquakes.
- The father was found with his phone and received medical attention before his son was rescued.
- The discovery provided a moment of hope amid widespread devastation.
- The death toll from the twin earthquakes has risen to over 1,700, with thousands injured and tens of thousands missing.
- International rescue teams are assisting in the ongoing efforts.
In La Guaira, Venezuela, rescue operations are continuing following twin earthquakes that struck the country's coastal region. Authorities have reported that the death toll has risen to over 1,700, with more than 5,000 injured and an estimated 68,000 people missing. The state of La Guaira has been declared a disaster zone and placed under military control.
Amidst the grim statistics, a moment of hope emerged when rescuers successfully extracted a father and his young son who had been trapped for four days in a collapsed building in Catia La Mar. The father was found with his phone and received immediate medical attention before his son was also brought to safety. This rescue, supported by international teams from El Salvador, Mexico, and Venezuela, offered a significant morale boost.
The earthquakes, which occurred on June 24 with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, caused widespread destruction. The government has been promoting its recovery efforts, restoring electricity to 90% of the hardest-hit areas and setting up temporary displacement camps. The United States has provided logistical support, and the Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean has established a $200 million fund for reconstruction. Opposition figure María Corina Machado has indicated her intention to return to Venezuela soon.