Mother and Newborn Rescued After 32 Hours
Dayana Patino and her 18-day-old son Juan David Trujillo survived for 32 hours trapped under the rubble of their eighth-floor flat in La Guaira after Venezuela's devastating double earthquake. Patino shielded the newborn as the building collapsed, conserving her energy to scream only when she heard rescuers nearby. Rescue workers carefully extracted Juan David first, placing him in the arms of his father Gerson, largely unharmed. Patino was rescued about 90 minutes later, suffering leg injuries. 'As long as he was alive, I was going to be alive,' she told reporters.
Death Toll and Missing Persons
The confirmed death toll from the earthquakes across Venezuela has reached 1,450, with more than 3,150 people injured. Over 46,600 people remain unaccounted for amid widespread structural collapses, and the toll is expected to rise. The United Nations estimates economic damage between $4.7 billion (£3.5 billion) and $8.7 billion (£6.6 billion), representing roughly 4% to 8% of Venezuela's GDP.
Other Remarkable Rescues
Belkys Barreto, 60, was rescued after surviving 86 hours trapped beneath a collapsed building in La Guaira. An international search team worked through the night to extract her, and she was airlifted to Caracas in stable condition. Moises Calzadilla, 11, was rescued alongside his father three days after the quake by US specialist firefighters. A paramedic, Rotny Bombart, dug for five hours to rescue his own mother, María Eugenia, from a collapsed 15-storey block, sustaining a severe arm injury. On June 27, a mother and her 14-month-old baby were rescued after eight hours of work by local firefighters and US crews from Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue.
Displacement and International Aid
More than 12,700 residents have been displaced. International search-and-rescue teams from the US, South America, Britain, and other countries continue to navigate the ruins amid over 130 recorded aftershocks. In Caracas, displaced families slept outdoors along Paseo Los Ilustres after a large block of flats was closed due to severe structural damage. Hospitals have received a flood of donations; anaesthesiologist Leomery Pérez said, 'We have tons of patients, but thank god, people have responded by bringing us a great deal of supplies.' Authorities have treated over 3,100 wounded people, many with crush injuries.
