Man Rescued 8 Days After Venezuelan Earthquakes as Families Identify Victims

A 43-year-old security guard, Hernán Alberto Gil Flores, was dramatically rescued alive from the rubble of a collapsed shopping center in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, eight days after powerful twin earthquakes struck the country on June 24, 2026. Rescuers from multiple nations worked painstakingly to free him from the basement of the Galerías Playa Grande shopping center, where he was trapped in a small security cabin that provided a vital air pocket, sustaining him with food and water until his extraction on July 2. His survival has been widely celebrated as a miracle amidst the widespread devastation.

Meanwhile, Venezuelan authorities and anguished families face the immense and difficult task of identifying victims. With the death toll nearing 2,600 and thousands still missing, the state of La Guaira, particularly hard-hit, is overwhelmed with bodies. Forensic teams are working tirelessly, often relying on distinguishing features like tattoos or scars due to the condition of the remains, while families endure long waits to claim their loved ones, with some bodies being held in makeshift morgues due to lack of space and resources.