In brief
Hernán Gil was rescued alive after being trapped under 140 tonnes of rubble for eight days following twin earthquakes in Venezuela. International search‑and‑rescue teams from Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal and the United States worked over 100 hours to free him. The disaster left almost 2,300 confirmed deaths and tens of thousands missing, sparking one of the largest coordinated rescue operations worldwide.
Hernán Gil was found alive eight days after the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24, 2026, and was trapped under roughly 140 tonnes of rubble in a collapsed building.
Emergency workers, aided by teams from Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal and the United States, spent more than 100 hours clearing the debris before finally freeing the 45‑year‑old man.
The earthquakes caused almost 2,300 confirmed deaths, and tens of thousands remain missing. The rescue operation has become one of the world’s largest coordinated efforts against a devastating natural disaster.
Hundreds of rescuers had been working day and night to locate Gil since he was first discovered on a Saturday. The international coalition’s perseverance and advanced search‑and‑rescue techniques proved crucial for the lives saved.
