Security Guard Rescued Alive Eight Days After Earthquake in Venezuela

A security guard trapped beneath the rubble of a shopping mall damaged by an earthquake has been rescued alive after eight days. Following two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week, a man was successfully rescued after being trapped for eight days inside the collapsed remains of a shopping mall. Emergency responders found Hernan Gil for the first time after spending nearly 100 hours beneath 140 tons of debris and managed to bring him out safely. He was a security guard at the mall.

Hundreds of rescuers from Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal, and the United States collaborated in the rescue operation. After establishing nighttime contact with Gil, the rescuers successfully transported him to a safe location. A rescuer from Chile described the mission as “the most complex and technically challenging rescue operation I have ever been involved in.” As of June 24, the earthquake in Venezuela has resulted in 2,600 confirmed deaths, with thousands still unaccounted for.