Rescue teams in Venezuela have pulled two 11-year-old boys alive from the rubble of collapsed buildings, offering rare moments of hope days after devastating earthquakes killed more than 1,400 people and left tens of thousands missing.
The first boy, identified as Moises, was rescued from the remains of a destroyed structure after being trapped for several days. Video from the scene showed rescuers carefully lifting him from the debris, shielding his eyes from sunlight as crowds of emergency workers applauded the successful rescue.
Hours later, interim President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed that another 11-year-old boy had also been found alive. She shared footage on social media showing the child being carried on a stretcher down a mound of rubble in the coastal town of Caraballeda, one of the hardest-hit areas.
Authorities said the twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, struck within seconds of each other earlier in the week, causing widespread destruction across multiple regions. Entire buildings collapsed, leaving many residents trapped beneath concrete and debris.
Officials have confirmed at least 1,430 deaths so far, though the full scale of the disaster remains unclear as rescue operations continue. Tens of thousands of people are still reported missing, while search teams race against time to locate survivors.
More than 85 hours after the initial quake, rescue crews say there is still hope that some victims may remain alive beneath the rubble, particularly in cases where air pockets, food, or water may have sustained them.
Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said Moises was buried under approximately three metres of debris. Rescue teams reportedly spent around six hours carrying out precision operations to reach him safely.
In a separate account, reports indicated that Moises was found near the bodies of his mother and sister, who did not survive the collapse.
Across the affected regions, desperate families continue to dig through rubble by hand in search of loved ones, as heavy machinery struggles to reach some of the worst-hit neighbourhoods.
Aftershocks have further complicated rescue efforts, increasing fear among survivors and slowing operations in already devastated communities. Many residents have been forced to sleep in cars or set up temporary shelters in open spaces such as airports and golf courses.
One such location in Caraballeda has become a central hub for relief operations, with emergency services, medical teams, and aid distribution centres operating from the area. International rescue teams from multiple countries have also joined local responders in the search for survivors.
Despite growing frustration over the pace of response in some areas, officials insist that emergency systems remain active and international assistance continues to arrive.
Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities continue to assess the scale of one of the deadliest natural disasters in Venezuela’s recent history.
