Venezuela earthquakes: Teen trapped under rubble as rescue efforts lag

Two powerful earthquakes of magnitudes 7.5 and 7.2 struck Venezuela on June 24, devastating the coastal state of La Guaira, particularly the town of Catia La Mar. The acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, declared the area a "zone of natural disaster" as multiple buildings collapsed Source: hoydo.

The trapped teenager

One of the most harrowing stories is that of 16-year-old Amir Infante, who was trapped under the rubble of the Luisa Cáceres de Arismendi complex in Playa Grande for over 12 hours. With only his face and torso visible, he begged rescuers: "No te vayas, no me dejes" ("Don't leave, don't abandon me") Source: infobae. He told reporters he feared becoming disabled as the weight increased. While earlier reports said he was alive and receiving water, later coverage from journalist Román Camacho indicated that Amir died due to lack of heavy machinery and proper rescue equipment Source: heraldomx.

Rescue challenges

Residents reported that no professional rescue teams or heavy equipment had arrived by the morning of June 25, leaving neighbors to dig through debris with their bare hands Source: hoydo. Scenes of desperation multiplied: families called out for missing relatives like Dana, an 11-year-old girl, and a woman named Eva. Helicopters were seen overhead, but ground assistance remained scarce Source: infobae. The disaster has highlighted Venezuela's lack of preparedness for such seismic events.