KATHMANDU. A three-year-old boy has been rescued alive from the rubble six days after a devastating earthquake struck Venezuela. The rescue has renewed hopes that more survivors can still be found in the earthquake-affected areas. Jordan’s rescue team reported that they pulled three-year-old Kleiber Moran alive from a collapsed building in La Guaira state. Interim President Delcy Rodríguez called the boy’s rescue a “ray of hope for the country.” Following his rescue, the boy received first aid and was rushed to a hospital. According to doctors, his health condition is stable, and he is currently undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital, Caracas.
The disaster follows two powerful earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that struck Venezuela last week, causing massive loss of life and property. The death toll has reached 1,943, while more than 10,000 people have been injured. Thousands of people still remain missing. According to preliminary satellite analysis, an estimated 58,870 buildings have been completely or partially destroyed. The first 72 hours after an earthquake are considered the most critical time to rescue those trapped under the rubble. Rescue workers have viewed the boy being found alive after six days as an extraordinary success.
In the worst-hit La Guaira region, local residents are continuing rescue operations on their own. However, according to the United Nations, there is a severe shortage of food, and drinking water, healthcare, and communication systems are almost completely shut down. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees stated that tension is rising in the affected communities due to limited access to relief materials. The UN estimated that an initial 15 million USD will be required to provide temporary housing, relief supplies, and protection services to 30,000 earthquake victims over the next six months.
The World Health Organization has also stated that healthcare services are under extreme pressure. The organization warned that the risk of spreading diseases like measles and diphtheria has increased due to low vaccination coverage. Jorge Rodríguez, President of the National Assembly of Venezuela, said that Kleiber’s rescue keeps alive the hope that survivors can still be found. According to him, domestic and international rescue teams are still searching the rubble, and temporary shelters have been set up in the affected areas. Rescue teams from dozens of countries, including the United States and Mexico, are deployed in the search and rescue efforts with trained dogs and heavy equipment.
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