A three-year-old boy has been pulled alive from the rubble six days after the horrific earthquake in Venezuela, in what officials describe as a 'moment of hope'. The child, identified by interim President Delcy Rodríguez as Klieber Morán, was rescued by a Jordanian civil defence team, who erupted in cheers as he was freed from the ruins.
Rescue Details and Medical Condition
Klieber was given first aid treatment at the scene and transported to a hospital in Caracas, where his vital signs were reported to be good, according to the Jordanian civil defence. Venezuelan Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez confirmed the boy was being treated in the capital, as reported by the BBC. The rescue has provided a rare glimmer of optimism amid the widespread devastation.
Earthquake Impact and Casualties
The death toll from the twin earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, has climbed to 1,943, with more than 10,000 people injured. Tens of thousands remain unaccounted for, and an initial assessment of NASA satellite data indicates that approximately 58,870 buildings were damaged or destroyed. The quakes struck on June 25, 2026, and aftershocks, including magnitudes of 4.2 and 4.5, have continued to rattle the region.
Ongoing Search and Rescue Efforts
Rodríguez stated that Klieber's rescue highlights the continued hope of finding more survivors. Domestic and international teams are still sifting through rubble, with over 2,600 rescue workers from around the world now involved, supported by nearly 140 specially trained search dogs. On Sunday, a father and his son were also pulled alive from a collapsed building in the coastal state of La Guaira after a 12-hour operation.
Humanitarian Crisis
The United Nations has warned that tens of thousands are in urgent need of food and shelter. The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reported on Tuesday that food shortages are widespread, basic services have broken down, and communications have been largely severed in La Guaira. 'Community tensions are rising as access to assistance remains constrained,' the UNHCR stated. The World Health Organization (WHO) added that health services are under 'extreme pressure,' with an increased risk of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and diphtheria due to low vaccination coverage, according to WHO spokesman Christian Lindmeier.
International Aid
International aid is arriving to support the country. A UN spokesperson confirmed that a 47-tonne shipment of humanitarian supplies arrived on Tuesday, including emergency health kits, supplies for safe births, newborn care, and disease prevention. The rescue efforts continue as the nation begins to lay the dead to rest, with many locals in hard-hit areas like La Guaira conducting their own search missions for loved ones.
