Venezuela earthquakes: Toddler rescued after six days in rubble

A young child has been rescued alive from the rubble in Venezuela, six days after devastating twin earthquakes struck the country.

The boy, identified as Klieber Moran, was pulled from the wreckage early on Tuesday, becoming the only reported survivor found on the sixth day of ongoing search and rescue operations, according to authorities.

The country was rocked last Wednesday by two powerful earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, which struck less than a minute apart. The quakes caused widespread destruction, flattening buildings and trapping thousands beneath debris.

There has been some confusion over the child’s age, with Venezuela’s acting president Delcy Rodríguez describing Moran as three years old, while National Assembly president Jorge Rodríguez said he was two.

“We must hold on to the hope of continuing to find people alive beneath the rubble,” Jorge said in a televised address. “Early this morning, a two-year-old boy was rescued and is currently receiving care at a health centre in Caracas.”

Video footage from the scene showed rescuers cheering as they discovered the child beneath the rubble.

Once pulled free, he received immediate first aid before being rushed to hospital, according to the Jordanian civil defence in a statement.

Rescuers wrapped him in a blanket and he was put inside an ambulance as he was transferred for medical care.

The Jordanian rescue team used camera technology to locate the child trapped under collapsed buildings, guiding them through tight void spaces in the debris.

Experts note the first 72 hours after an earthquake are the critical window for survival, when trapped victims are most likely to be rescued alive.

The Jordanian statement said the infant’s vital signs were stable at the time of extraction, and local authorities had been notified of the rescue.

As rescue efforts continue, international aid is beginning to arrive. A shipment from the United Nations children’s agency, Unicef, delivered 47 metric tonnes of humanitarian supplies to Venezuela on Tuesday.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said the shipment included emergency health kits for urgent medical care, with supplies to support safe births, newborn care, disease prevention and treatment.

The official death toll has climbed to more than 1,900, with more than 10,000 people injured. However, experts warn the true number is likely higher as more bodies are recovered and morgues struggle to cope.

A growing humanitarian crisis is also unfolding among survivors. Thousands of displaced people have been forced to sleep outdoors or in overcrowded and unsanitary shelters, raising concerns about health risks.

According to Nasa estimates, nearly 59,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed, suggesting hundreds of thousands of people have been affected.

Unicef said about 680,000 children across the country are now in need of humanitarian assistance.

According to the UN around 50,000 people are still listed as missing.