Man Rescued Alive 8 Days After Venezuelan Earthquakes

Hernán Alberto Gil Flores, a 43-year-old security guard, was rescued alive on July 2, 2026, from the collapsed basement of the Galerías Playa Grande shopping centre in La Guaira, Venezuela. He had been trapped for eight days following back-to-back earthquakes that struck the coastal port city. Flores survived by being in a pocket of air within his workstation cabin. International rescue teams were present during the rescue, which was met with cheers. Initially, Flores had asked rescuers not to inform his wife of his situation in case he did not survive. The earthquakes caused significant devastation in the region, leaving Flores trapped for an extended period before his eventual rescue.