In brief
The 2026 Venezuelan earthquakes left 2,300 dead and tens of thousands missing. Hernán Gil was found under 140 tonnes of dust and debris eight days after the tremors. Over 100 hours of work by Venezuelan, Chilean, Costa Rican, Salvadoran, Mexican, Portuguese, and U.S. rescuers freed him from the wreckage. The rescue showcases global solidarity in disaster response and emphasizes the importance of rapid search‑and‑rescue operations in seismic zones.
On 24 June 2026, Venezuela was hit by two powerful earthquakes that collapsed buildings, claiming about 2,300 lives and leaving tens of thousands unaccounted for.
Eight days after the earthquakes, rescue workers finally freed 48‑year‑old Hernán Gil from the heart of a collapsed structure. Under more than 140 tonnes of rubble, he had been trapped for 100 hours before teams from Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal and the United States lifted him to safety.
The operation required precision heavy‑lift equipment, meticulous coordination, and relentless determination. Gil’s survival highlights both the resilience of victims and the reach of international disaster‑response cooperation.
Officials are still working to account for thousands of missing people and to bring final closure to families in the affected regions.
Published on 2 July 2026