In brief
On 24 June, twin earthquakes shook Venezuela, crushing the Galerías Playa Grande mall and its parking lot. Hernán Gil, a worker in a basement booth, was trapped under an estimated 140 tonnes of debris. After more than 100 hours, a multinational team—drawn from Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal and the United States—managed to free him. Rescuers reported that Gil was in stable condition, receiving water, an IV and protection against dust. His survival highlights the resilience of the trapped and the global commitment to rescue efforts amid the disaster.
On 24 June, twin earthquakes struck Venezuela, collapsing the Galerías Playa Grande mall and its surrounding parking lot. Hernán Gil, a worker in a small concrete booth at the basement level, was trapped under an estimated 140 tonnes of rubble that rumbled across the street and settled on top of him.
Emergency workers first located Gil under the debris on Saturday. They identified a protective “shell” around him created by the booth, which helped shield him from complete crushing.
The rescue effort proved extremely complex. Over 100 hours passed before teams from seven countries—Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal, and the United States—were able to secure visual contact with Gil. During the search, sections of the rescue access ducts collapsed repeatedly, underscoring the danger for both Ger and the rescuers.
A Chilean firefighter inserted a small camera into the rubble to get a view of Gil. The footage showed him blood‑shot eyes and a face mask that rescuers had passed through a hole to shield him from dust. The firefighter also requested that he wear goggles as the dig continued.
After freeing him, medical teams stabilized Gil. Costa Rican Red Cross volunteer Ricardo Arias reported that he was in a stable condition and had been given water and attached to an IV drip. Mexican Red Cross volunteer Marco Antonio Franco described him as a cheerful survivor who, even after eight days, asked for specific flavors of hydration drinks.
Gil’s survival marked a glimmer of hope amid the tragedy: almost 2,300 fatalities have been confirmed and tens of thousands remain missing. The story of his rescue underscores both the fragility of life in disaster zones and the resilience that emerges when multiple nations unite.
