Lead

Rescuers in Venezuela have pulled an infant and two 11-year-old boys from the rubble of collapsed buildings, offering rare moments of hope in the wake of the devastating earthquakes that struck the country on Wednesday. The rescues came during a weekend multinational operation that continued to search for survivors, even as the confirmed death toll rose and tens of thousands of people remained unaccounted for.

Coverage comparison

According to ABC Australia, at least 1,450 deaths have been confirmed and tens of thousands of people are unaccounted for. The US Geological Survey estimated that over 10,000 deaths are possible, the outlet reported. The BBC, meanwhile, put the confirmed death toll at 1,430 and said tens of thousands are still missing. Both outlets reported the magnitude of the earthquakes as 7.2 and 7.5, striking within 39 seconds of each other, according to the BBC.

The BBC described rescuers as not giving up hope, noting that people could still be alive, especially if they have access to food and water under the rubble. ABC Australia reported that the government's response is being criticized as too slow and inefficient.

Key claims

  • Rescues: Two 11-year-old boys were rescued separately within hours of each other, the BBC reported. The first boy, named Moises, was pulled from twisted debris with his eyes covered to protect them from the sun. The second boy was rescued in the town of Caraballeda, as announced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez. ABC Australia reported that an infant was also pulled alive by US rescuers from a building in La Guaira.
  • Death toll and missing: The BBC reported at least 1,430 deaths; ABC Australia reported at least 1,450. Both outlets said tens of thousands of people are still missing. ABC Australia noted that just under 50,000 people were listed as unaccounted-for on a website promoted by the country's political opposition.
  • Earthquakes: The BBC said magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 earthquakes struck Venezuela, causing hundreds of buildings to collapse and many people to remain trapped inside. The quakes hit within 39 seconds of each other, and aftershocks have hampered rescue efforts, according to the BBC.
  • Rescue efforts: International rescue teams from Mexico, Spain, Qatar, the US, and the UK have arrived to reinforce search efforts, the BBC reported. ABC Australia said more than 2,200 rescue workers from across the world had arrived by Saturday to help.
  • Individual rescue details: The BBC reported that Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) said Moises was buried under about 3 meters of debris, and the rescue team spent six hours conducting "high-precision work" to reach him. Reuters reported that a rescuer was overheard on a walkie-talkie saying the boy was found near his sister and mother, who had both died.
  • Government response: ABC Australia reported that the government, headed by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, initially thanked civilian volunteers ferrying aid to La Guaira but then heavily tightened access to the road, saying traffic was preventing efficient movement of emergency vehicles and that only accredited people could use the roadway.

Perspectives

The Venezuelan government, under interim President Delcy Rodríguez, has emphasized hope, with Rodríguez posting on X about the second boy's rescue and writing, "In these hours, every life is hope for Venezuela." The government has also defended its access restrictions to La Guaira as necessary for efficient emergency response.

In contrast, ABC Australia reported that the government's response is being criticized as too slow and inefficient, and that families and volunteers spent days pulling survivors and bodies from the rubble before the arrival of more than 2,000 foreign rescue workers, often complaining of scant heavy equipment and a limited official presence.