Newborn Baby Rescued Alive After 32 Hours Beneath Rubble
A newborn baby has been pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building in Venezuela, more than 32 hours after two powerful earthquakes struck the nation on Wednesday. The infant, wrapped in a pink blanket, was carried out from the remains of a damaged house in the city of La Guaira, one of the worst-hit areas. Video shared on social media shows crowds cheering and clapping as a young man weeps with joy and hugs the child close. The mother was also rescued several hours later.
Death Toll Rises Above 1,400 as Rescue Efforts Continue
The back-to-back earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck northern Venezuela just 39 seconds apart on Wednesday. More than 1,400 people have been confirmed dead, and over 70,000 are reported missing. The quakes, among the most intense to hit the country in over a century, caused widespread destruction, collapsing buildings across the region. La Guaira has been declared a disaster zone.
British Crisis-Response Volunteers Join International Rescue Teams
A specialist team of British crisis-response volunteers is assisting in the operation. The UK government has sent £2 million in humanitarian aid, and 17 flights carrying more than 1,600 foreign rescuers have landed in Venezuela in recent days. The first 48 to 72 hours are critical for saving lives, but locals say the government has mobilised too slowly.
Other Miraculous Rescues Amid Devastation
In addition to the newborn, an 11-year-old boy was pulled alive from under debris in the disaster zone. One visibly emotional rescuer said: "Working together with love, because life is the important thing we have." The rescues have provided hope amid the devastation.
Earthquake Doublet Amplified Destruction
Marcos Ferreira, a geophysicist and researcher at the Geological Survey of Brazil, explained that the back-to-back quakes, known as a doublet, compounded the destruction. "It is as if I am screaming and then someone starts screaming, too. That amplifies the vibration and adds to the potential hazard," he said. A similar doublet struck Turkey and Syria in 2023, killing almost 60,000 people.
