Rescue teams from seven countries are making progress towards Hernán Gil, a security guard who has survived eight days beneath the unstable rubble of a collapsed multi-storey car park in Catia La Mar, Venezuela. Emergency workers located Gil on Saturday and have since been working to free him.
Despite being buried under nine meters of debris, Gil, in his 40s, is reportedly in good spirits and has been cheering on the rescuers, who describe his survival as a miracle. His rescue is complicated by the highly unstable nature of the rubble, with parts of the access ducts created by the teams collapsing multiple times.
International Rescue Efforts
Approximately 350 rescuers, including teams from Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal, and the United States, are involved in the painstaking effort. They have been working against the clock for over 100 hours since Gil was located. Overnight, the teams were able to establish visual contact with Gil using a small camera inserted into the debris.
Footage shows Gil wearing a face mask, provided by rescuers through a small hole, to protect him from dust. He has also been given an intravenous drip. A Chilean firefighter was heard on camera asking Gil to turn his head and to don goggles to protect his eyes as the careful excavation continues.
The twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 have claimed the lives of nearly 2,300 people, with tens of thousands still missing. The ongoing rescue of Gil offers a glimmer of hope amidst the widespread devastation.