US Team Rescues 9-Month-Old From Venezuela Earthquake Rubble
American rescue workers pulled a 9-month-old baby and her mother alive from earthquake rubble in Venezuela four days after devastating twin quakes struck. Both survived with only minor injuries in a rescue that defied the odds.
Four days after twin earthquakes devastated Venezuela's coast, American rescue workers heard signs of life beneath tons of concrete and refused to give up.
The Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue team pulled a 9-month-old infant and her mother from the rubble in Catia La Mar on Saturday. Both suffered only minor injuries, a remarkable outcome after being trapped for more than 72 hours.
The rescue happened well past the critical 48 to 72-hour window that aid groups consider most vital for finding survivors. Yet the team from Virginia, working with specialized listening equipment and search dogs, kept digging.
Two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela's northern coast on Wednesday. The disaster has claimed 1,430 lives so far, with more than 68,000 people still missing across the country.
The United States deployed three urban search and rescue teams totaling 312 personnel and 18 canine units to help. Teams from Virginia, California, and Florida brought 200,000 pounds of specialized rescue equipment, including concrete-breaking tools and devices that detect survivors under debris.
The rescue teams include firefighters, doctors, structural engineers, and canine search specialists working around the clock. As of Saturday, they had rescued 243 people from collapsed buildings across La Guaira and parts of Caracas.
The Ripple Effect
This single rescue represents something bigger than one family's survival. The American teams' presence shows what happens when nations put aside differences during disasters. Venezuela and the United States have had strained relations for years, yet when earthquakes struck, help came immediately.
The rescue effort involved 17 flights carrying more than 1,600 international rescue personnel by Saturday. The United States pledged $150 million in emergency assistance to support relief organizations on the ground.
Each life pulled from the rubble gives hope to thousands of families still waiting for news of their loved ones. The 9-month-old's rescue reminds rescue workers why they keep searching even when the odds seem impossible.
In moments of unimaginable tragedy, humanity's best instincts take over.
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Based on reporting by Fox News Latest Headlines (all sections)
This story was written by BrightWire based on verified news reports.
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