A 21-year-old man was pulled alive from the rubble in Venezuela’s La Guaira state after spending five days trapped under collapsed buildings. The rescue operation—carried out by joint teams from Venezuela, Mexico, and El Salvador—lasted 43 hours and marked a rare success amid the devastation caused by two powerful earthquakes.
Earthquakes Leave Widespread Destruction
The twin quakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 on the Richter scale, triggered widespread destruction across northern Venezuela. Hundreds of buildings collapsed, including parts of the country’s main international airport. According to the latest provisional toll, at least 1,450 people have died.
Aaron Levi Cantillo Vargas Found in Caraballeda
The survivor has been identified as Aaron Levi Cantillo Vargas. He was located in the town of Caraballeda, within the Tanaguarena sector of the OPP 25 building. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele announced the rescue on social media, noting that the operation was significantly complicated by the presence of a deceased person nearby—a grim reminder of the human cost.
Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, confirmed that the rescue effort spanned 43 hours, while Cantillo Vargas had remained buried for a total of 106 hours—just over four days—before being freed.
Ongoing Search and Other Miraculous Survivals
Cantillo Vargas is now receiving specialized medical care. Rescue teams say they will continue working “with hope that more lives can still be saved.”
His case echoes another extraordinary survival: Dajiana Patiño, a mother rescued with her 18-day-old baby from the ruins of their home. Speaking to the BBC, she described how her infant gave her the strength to endure. “My son was my reason to stay awake and alert,” she said. “As long as he was alive, I would be too. Every so often, I touched his nose to make sure he was still breathing.”
Disturbing and emotional footage from the rescue efforts—recorded four days after the quakes—has circulated widely, underscoring both the scale of the disaster and the resilience of those fighting to save lives.