Rescue teams from Jordan recovered a child alive from the ruins of a residential building in La Guaira state early on Tuesday, Venezuelan authorities said, marking the only confirmed survivor found on the sixth consecutive day of search operations.
Acting President Delcy Rodriguez said in a message on Telegram that the child, identified as Klieber Moran, was pulled from the Los Corales Garden 1 building by Jordanian rescuers after spending six days trapped beneath debris. The child was taken for medical care following the extraction, the message said.
There are differing accounts of the childs age in official statements. Delcy Rodriguez described Moran as 3 years old, while National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez referred to him as 2 years old in a televised address. Jorge Rodriguez told viewers:
"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."
Venezuela experienced two strong earthquakes last Wednesday, measured at magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 occurring less than a minute apart, according to authorities and rescue teams. The tremors caused buildings to collapse and left thousands of people trapped beneath the wreckage, officials said.
In parallel with rescue efforts, a UNICEF shipment carrying 47 metric tons of humanitarian supplies arrived in Venezuela on Tuesday, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said. The delivery is intended to assist children and families affected by the disaster, he said.
Dujarric said the cargo includes emergency health kits designed for urgent medical care. The kits contain supplies to support safe births, newborn care, disease prevention and treatment, the UN spokesperson added.
Search operations continued as authorities and international teams worked amid the aftermath of the twin quakes, with the rescued child receiving medical attention in Caracas while relief supplies were distributed to address immediate health needs.
Context limitations: Official accounts in this report reflect statements issued by Venezuelan authorities, a televised address by the National Assembly President and comments from a UN spokesperson.