Rescue in La Guaira after the earthquake
Early Thursday morning, a double earthquake shook the Vargas state, in Venezuela. In La Guaira, a coastal town 20 kilometers north of Caracas, search teams worked tirelessly among the rubble.
The first survivor to emerge was a child, thin and covered in dust. Shortly after, a young woman managed to say: “There are three of us.” And so it was: a teenager emerged with difficulty. Three brothers, apparently unharmed, were pulled from a crack in what remained of a home.
The video of the rescue was recorded by Mario Ruiz, a neighbor who participated in the tasks. “God, you are merciful,” he exclaimed when he saw them safe. The images went viral on social networks as a symbol of hope.
“Look, we just saved a child,” is heard at the beginning of the video. The little boy, about six or seven years old, emerges from the wreckage. Behind him, his older sister climbs with help. “Are they brothers?” they ask. “Yes, there are three of us,” she replies. The third, the oldest, manages to get out without visible injuries.
The children’s father, exhausted and sweaty, only nodded when asked if his son was there. An older rescuer calmed him: “Let’s go step by step. Help is on the way. You must have faith.”
Hope after tragedy
La Guaira has about 40 thousand inhabitants, although the actual census will be uncertain until the dust settles. The night was long; Rescuers are still searching for more survivors. The miracle of these three brothers keeps hope alive.
