The body of a 25-year-old model, Oriana Ustariz, was recovered from the rubble of a collapsed building in Caracas, Venezuela, still clutching her pet dog. Ustariz, who had recently earned a degree in physiotherapy, was discovered on June 30 in the Moisés building in the San Bernardino district during extensive search operations following back-to-back earthquakes that struck the region.
According to local reports, Ustariz was the last person unaccounted for from her apartment building. Her mother last heard from her when she left to walk her dog, believed to be named Kai. Rescuers found Ustariz's body entangled with her dog among the debris.
Ustariz had shared photos of her graduation ceremony just days before the disaster, noting on social media the importance of being surrounded by loved ones during achievements. Her online profiles described her as a beach lover and featured the quote, "Fight for your dreams - nothing falls from the sky."
Quake Aftermath and Rescue Efforts
The earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, have caused widespread devastation, collapsing an estimated 200 structures. The confirmed death toll has risen to nearly 2,600, with the United Nations estimating that at least 50,000 people may still be missing. Rescue operations have been ongoing, with international teams joining local efforts.
Former Major League Baseball player Eliezer Alfonzo is among those holding out hope for loved ones. His wife and teenage daughter were in an eight-story hotel in Macuto when the earthquakes struck. Alfonzo has been sifting through the ruins of the hotel, the hardest-hit area in Venezuela, where the majority of deaths have occurred. Miners from Tumeremo tunneled through the hotel rubble, eventually finding Mila, Alfonzo's three-month-old dog, alive. The dog's barking alerted rescuers to potential signs of life.
Aloa Gonzalez has been keeping vigil beside the ruins of the Tahiti Residence, awaiting news of her sister and aunt. Despite initial reports of possible signs of life detected by sound equipment and rescue dogs, official assessments concluded there were no more survivors at that site. However, unconfirmed reports of a young boy being found alive circulated on social media, leading to both hope and frustration among families searching for loved ones.
Jose Francisco Liendo expressed that such rumors were "playing with the families' pain." Security guard Hernán Gil was remarkably rescued after spending nearly eight days trapped beneath the rubble in Playa Grande, receiving water and oxygen through tubes during his ordeal. Search and debris removal operations continue in affected areas, and interim President Delcy Rodríguez has stated the government's intention to individually identify all deceased victims, ruling out mass graves.