Toddler found alive after six days under Caracas rubble
A Jordanian rescue team used thermal imaging to locate the child after two earthquakes hit Venezuela, Al Jazeera reported.
By Daniel Okafor · Business Editor
2 min read
A toddler has been pulled alive from rubble in Caracas six days after two earthquakes struck Venezuela in quick succession, Al Jazeera reported Tuesday. The rescue came as the reported death toll rose above 1,700 and tens of thousands of people were still missing.
According to Al Jazeera, a Jordanian rescue team found the child using thermal imaging equipment. The toddler had been trapped beneath debris in the Venezuelan capital since the earthquakes hit.
Rescue amid a widening disaster
Al Jazeera reported that the earthquakes struck back to back, leaving large areas buried under collapsed material and emergency crews searching for survivors. The report did not identify the child or provide further details about the toddler’s condition after being freed.
The use of thermal imaging suggests rescuers were scanning rubble for signs of life after days of searching. Al Jazeera said the Jordanian team used the equipment to detect and reach the child six days after the disaster.
The rescue stands out against the scale of the losses reported in Venezuela. Al Jazeera said more than 1,700 people had died, while tens of thousands remained missing.
Search efforts continue
The figures reported by Al Jazeera point to a continuing emergency, with many families still waiting for word on missing relatives. The toddler’s rescue shows that crews were still finding survivors nearly a week after the earthquakes.
Al Jazeera did not report the magnitudes of the earthquakes or give a fuller breakdown of damage outside Caracas. The report focused on the child’s rescue and the rising human toll across Venezuela.
Jordan’s role in the operation was through the rescue team that located the toddler, according to Al Jazeera. The report did not say how many Jordanian rescuers were involved or whether other international teams were taking part.
Authorities in Venezuela have not been cited in the report with a separate casualty update. Al Jazeera said the death toll had climbed past 1,700 and that tens of thousands were still unaccounted for as rescue work continued.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.