Security guard pulled alive from collapsed basement after days trapped following Venezuela earthquakes
Rescuers pulled a 43-year-old security guard alive from the rubble of a collapsed basement early Thursday, bringing a dramatic close to a days-long rescue effort following twin earthquakes that devastated parts of Venezuela earlier this month.
Hernán Alberto Gil Flores had been trapped since June 24 beneath the debris of the Galerías Playa Grande shopping center in La Guaira. Search crews made initial contact with him over the weekend and worked continuously to reach his position in an unstable underground space.
As the rescue unfolded, teams from multiple countries coordinated efforts to stabilize the structure, tunnel through debris, and maintain communication with Gil Flores. He was eventually brought out on a stretcher, wearing an oxygen mask and covered with an orange tarp, as responders and onlookers applauded and cheered.
Members of international rescue teams embraced in relief as the survivor was loaded into a Red Cross ambulance, marking a rare moment of hope amid widespread destruction across the region.
Officials described the operation as extraordinary, noting that Gil Flores survived far beyond the typical window for finding survivors after a structural collapse. Crews kept him alive with food and water while carefully excavating around him and navigating repeated aftershocks and heavy rain.
Gil Flores had been working as a night-shift security guard when the first earthquake struck. He was inside a small security cabin that remained partially intact even as much of the surrounding structure collapsed, creating a pocket of air that likely saved his life.
Rescuers first detected signs of life days earlier and maintained contact using specialized equipment, including a telescopic camera. Supplies were delivered through a narrow opening to sustain him until crews could safely reach his location.
A veteran firefighter from Chile helped guide him through the final hours of the operation, keeping him calm as teams worked to free him. In a video released during the rescue, Gil Flores was seen drawing while waiting, before being instructed to wear protective goggles as debris continued to fall.
His wife, Gusbimar González, said she endured days of uncertainty before learning he was alive, describing the news as “a ray of light in the darkness.” The couple has two children.
The collapse was triggered by two powerful earthquakes on June 24, which caused widespread destruction across northern Venezuela, killing more than 2,200 people, injuring over 11,000, and leaving La Guaira among the hardest-hit areas.
Comments
Post a Comment