Colombian rescue team saves boy amid Venezuela earthquake devastation

A Colombian search-and-rescue team extracted an 11-year-old boy alive from the rubble in La Guaira after six hours of precision work, offering a rare moment of hope in a disaster that has claimed over 1,400 lives. The boy, Moisés, was found conscious with a broken arm and was given water while rescuers removed debris Source: eltiempoco.

Rescue operation

The USAR COL-1 team, composed of 63 rescuers and four canine units, was assigned to La Guaira, the area hit hardest by the two earthquakes (magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5) on June 24 Source: infobae. Using specialized equipment, they located Moisés about three meters deep and worked steadily to free him Source: elcolombiano. The operation involved firefighters from several Colombian cities, including eight from Envigado Source: elcolombiano.

• The team established verbal contact with the boy and used technology to gauge his depth Source: eltiempoco.
• Moisés reported being with two others, but no signs of life were detected from them Source: elnacionalve.

International response

At least 17 countries sent rescue teams, including 137 rescue dogs from nations such as Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Argentina, the United States, and Spain Source: clarin. However, logistics were hampered by collapsed roads; a Spanish team noted it took nearly 11 hours to travel 100 km .