Girl Survives Venezuela Earthquake, Relying on Ketchup and Cheese Amid Rubble
In La Guaira, the twin ~5.9‑magnitude earthquakes that struck Venezuela on July 1 left thousands dead and tens of thousands missing. Amid the devastation, intrepid correspondent Yogita Limaye trekked through the rubble and discovered Fabiana García, a 12‑year‑old who had been trapped for more than thirty hours.
The child’s ingenuity shone through: following the dayward night, she delved into the debris and, when food went scarce, saved a bottle of ketchup and a block of cheese from a nearby house. Those simple items kept her hydrated and fed until she was finally removed from under the collapsed structure.
Fragilities were minimal; Fabiana suffered only a fractured left foot and several bruises. Her recovery was rapid, punctuated by gratitude and tears at the support of Venezuelan first responders.
The quakes‑related death toll now stands at 3,342, and many remain missing, underscoring the gravity of the crisis. Yet stories like Fabiana’s remind us that hope and survival can emerge even amidst catastrophe.
