The miracle of Hernán Gil in Venezuela: rescued alive after eight days trapped under the rubble due to the earthquakes

The rescue of Hernán Gil has left one of the few hopeful news amidst the tragedy that has been hitting Venezuela for a week. The security guard was pulled out alive this Thursday after spending eight days under the rubble of a collapsed building in Catia La Mar, in the state of La Guaira, one of the areas most affected by the double earthquake on June 24.

Gil was working in the building's security booth when the earthquakes brought down the structure. The guardhouse would have acted as a kind of shelter among tons of concrete, which allowed the teams to maintain contact with him during the last hours of the operation.

The operation has been especially delicate. Rescuers had to advance manually and meticulously to avoid new collapses. During the rescue, Hernán received hydration, food, and medication through a small opening made in the rubble. His wife has remained for days next to the building waiting for the outcome.

International teams from Chile, the United States, Portugal, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico participated in the work, in addition to Venezuelan services. The USAR team from Bomberos de Chile played a key role in locating and extracting the survivor, who was transferred by ambulance to receive medical attention.

Hernán Gil's case had concentrated the attention of emergency teams in recent hours because the chances of finding people alive decrease every day. Some international groups had already begun to close search missions, although others continued working in areas where there were still signs or communication with trapped individuals.

The rescue comes with Venezuela still in national mourning. The latest official balance raises the number of fatalities from the earthquakes to 2,295, with 11,267 injured and more than 6,400 people rescued. The acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, decreed seven days of mourning for the victims.

Spain also maintains its humanitarian response active. Foreign Affairs confirmed this Thursday 27 deceased Spaniards and 137 missing, while the AECID has sent a field hospital to reinforce healthcare in the affected areas.