A three-year-old boy has been pulled alive from the rubble six days after the devastating earthquake in Venezuela, in what has been described as a 'moment of hope'. A Jordanian rescue team erupted in celebration as the youngster was freed from the debris. He has been identified by the country's interim president as Klieber Morán.
Rescue and Identification
Delcy Rodríguez, the interim president, hailed the child's rescue as a moment of hope. The Jordanian civil defence confirmed that Klieber received first aid treatment before being transferred to hospital, where his vital signs were reported as stable. He was receiving treatment in the capital Caracas, Venezuelan Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez said, according to the BBC.
Death Toll and Damage
The death toll from the catastrophic disaster has risen to 1,943, with more than 10,000 people sustaining injuries. The earthquakes, registering magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, have also left tens of thousands more unaccounted for. According to an initial assessment of satellite data from NASA, the quakes damaged or destroyed approximately 58,870 buildings.
Ongoing Search Efforts
Rodríguez stated that Klieber's rescue served as proof that hope remained of finding further survivors. He added that both domestic and international teams were continuing to sift through the wreckage in search of those still missing. Experts cautioned that the three-day window following the quake represented the greatest opportunity for finding survivors. Residents of La Guaira, one of the worst affected regions, have been mounting their own rescue operations in a desperate bid to locate missing family members.
Humanitarian Crisis
The UN's refugee agency reported on Tuesday that food shortages were rife, essential services had collapsed and communications had been almost entirely cut off in La Guaira. "Community tensions are rising as access to assistance remains constrained," the UNHCR stated on its website. The World Health Organization (WHO) warned that health services are under "extreme pressure." "There's an increased risk now of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases" such as measles and diphtheria due to low vaccination coverage, WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier said.
Other Rescues and International Aid
Four days after the quake struck, a father and his son were also pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building. The pair were rescued on Sunday following a 12-hour operation by search teams in the coastal state of La Guaira. Venezuelan authorities confirmed that more than 2,600 rescue workers from across the globe are now involved in the search effort, aided by nearly 140 specially trained search dogs. International assistance continues to pour into the country during its hour of need. A UN spokesperson confirmed that a 47-tonne consignment of humanitarian supplies touched down on Tuesday, containing emergency health kits, equipment for safe deliveries, newborn care and disease prevention essentials.
Aftershocks
The threat of additional destruction persists as aftershocks continue to rattle Venezuela, with smaller tremors measuring 4.2 and 4.5 in magnitude recorded on Sunday morning.
