Boy, 2, pulled alive from rubble six days after Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes
A 2‑year‑old boy named Klieber Moran was pulled from the rubble of a collapsed building in La Guaira after spending six days trapped beneath the debris. The rescue, the first reported survival on the sixth day of the ongoing operation, was carried out by emergency workers from Jordan and was confirmed by Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, who posted the news on Telegram.
“We are grateful to the Jordanian emergency workers who have rescued the child from the collapsed structure in La Guaira, an area most heavily hit by the earthquakes,” Rodríguez wrote. “The child, Klieber Moran, was rescued after six days beneath the rubble. He has been taken to a hospital for treatment.”
The boy is currently receiving care at a health center in Caracas, according to a televised address by National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez. “We must hold onto the hope of continuing to find people alive beneath the rubble,” Jorge said. “Early this morning, a 2‑year‑old boy was rescued and is currently receiving care at a health center in Caracas.”
The rescue comes as part of a wider search that began after a pair of twin earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern coast last Wednesday. The seismic events, a 7.2‑ and a 7.5‑magnitude quake, caused widespread collapse and left the country in a state of emergency. By Tuesday, the death toll had risen to 1,943, with more than 10,500 people reported injured, according to Venezuelan officials. The number of missing remains in the thousands.
Since the earthquakes, international assistance has poured into the country. On Saturday, the U.S. State Department released footage of American search‑and‑rescue teams pulling a 9‑month‑old infant and her mother alive from beneath rubble in La Guaira; both suffered only minor injuries. The U.S. has also deployed Navy warships and pledged $150 million in aid.
UNICEF arrived in Venezuela on Tuesday with 47 metric tons of humanitarian supplies, including emergency health kits for urgent medical care, safe births, newborn care and disease prevention. The shipment arrives as rescue teams from the United States – 312 personnel and 18 canine teams drawn from Virginia, California and Florida – continue to scour collapsed buildings with more than 200,000 pounds of specialized equipment.
The rescue of Klieber Moran is the latest sign of hope amid a crisis that has devastated the coastal region. While the international community mobilizes resources and personnel, Venezuelan officials remain optimistic that more survivors will emerge from the wreckage.