A 43-year-old security guard, Hernán Alberto Gil Flores, was rescued from a collapsed building in La Guaira, Venezuela, after being trapped for 8 days. The rescue operation was a joint effort by teams from Chile, the United States, Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Venezuela.
Rescue Operation
The operation was coordinated by an urban search and rescue team of Chilean firefighters, who worked around the clock with specialized teams from other countries. Rescuers navigated a highly unstable structure, torrential rain, and persistent aftershocks to tunnel down to the survivor.
Gil Flores was extracted safely after being trapped since June 24 under the rubble in the basement of the Galerías Playa Grande shopping center. He was given food and water by rescuers while they excavated the concrete, keeping him alive far longer than the 48-to-72-hour threshold most rescue operations give to find survivors in disasters.
Family Reaction
Gil Flores’ wife, Gusbimar González, expressed her relief and joy at the news of her husband’s rescue. The couple has two children, ages 8 and 10.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
