Security Guard Rescued After 8 Days Trapped in Rubble Following Venezuela Earthquakes
Rescue workers pulled a security guard alive from the debris of a collapsed shopping centre in Catia La Mar, Venezuela, eight days after twin earthquakes struck the region on June 24. The man, identified as Hernán Alberto Gil Flores, was found in a concrete guard booth in the basement parking area, which protected him from the falling rubble above.
Gil, 44, was on duty when the earthquakes hit. The guard booth acted as a shield, allowing him to survive despite being buried under an estimated 140 tonnes of concrete and steel. Rescue teams from Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal, and the United States worked together in the operation, which a Chilean firefighter described as one of the most challenging of his career.
The first sign of life came when Allan Madrigal, a paramedic with the Costa Rican Red Cross, heard Gil's cries for help on Sunday, more than 100 hours after the quakes. Madrigal initially doubted his ears and asked a colleague to confirm. Once verified, the teams intensified efforts to reach him, using small cameras to locate him and passing a mask to protect his lungs from dust.
Gil remained conscious and in good spirits throughout the ordeal. Marco Antonio Franco of the Mexican Red Cross reported that Gil was upbeat, even requesting specific drink flavours for his hydration. Gil encouraged rescue workers and recognised them as they dug towards him. When finally freed, he had no serious injuries; a Costa Rican Red Cross worker quoted him as saying he did not even have a broken nail.
The earthquakes, which struck back-to-back on June 24, caused widespread devastation. Nearly 2,300 people were killed, and tens of thousands remain missing. The rescue of Gil became a symbol of hope amid the disaster, drawing international attention and cooperation.
Madrigal, who was on his first international mission, said the experience profoundly affected him. 'The lad who came here a week ago is not the same one that will return to Costa Rica,' he told reporters. Gil is now receiving medical care, and his survival underscores the resilience of victims and the dedication of rescue teams in the aftermath of natural disasters.
