Emergency workers in Venezuela have rescued a 2-year-old boy who had been trapped beneath rubble for six days, marking the only confirmed survivor rescued on the sixth day of search operations. Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez announced via Telegram that Jordanian emergency personnel pulled the child from a collapsed building in La Guaira, the area hardest hit by last week’s earthquakes.
The child, identified as Klieber Moran, was taken to a hospital for treatment, Rodríguez said. Authorities expressed hope that more survivors might still be found as rescue efforts continue. Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez urged continued hope, saying, “We must hold onto the hope of continuing to find people alive beneath the rubble.”
The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, struck Venezuela’s northern coast last Wednesday. Since then, the death toll has risen to at least 235, with more than 10,500 injuries reported, according to officials. The previous day, the number of fatalities was 1,719.
The disaster response has involved international aid, including a shipment of 47 metric tons of humanitarian supplies from UNICEF that arrived Tuesday. The supplies include emergency health kits designed for urgent medical needs, such as safe childbirth, newborn care, and disease prevention.
U.S. search-and-rescue teams from Virginia, California and Florida, totaling 312 personnel and 18 canine teams, arrived Friday to assist in rescue efforts. They brought more than 200,000 pounds of specialized equipment and are working alongside local teams to find survivors amid the destruction. The United States has also pledged $150 million in aid and deployed Navy ships to support relief efforts, according to the State Department.
In recent days, other rescue successes have been reported. On Saturday, U.S. teams pulled a 9-month-old infant and her mother from the rubble, both with minor injuries. The incident was captured on video and shared by the State Department, which highlighted the ongoing hope amid the tragedy.
Jon Ross Myers is the executive editor and publisher of the Mississippi News Network, Mississippi's largest digital only media company. He can be reached at editor@tippahnews.com
