On 2 July 2026, Hernán Gil was pulled from the rubble of a collapsed car park in Venezuela, eight days after twin earthquakes struck the country. Rescuers had spent more than 100 hours carefully digging through 140 tonnes of concrete and steel to reach him, and he emerged "just perfect" according to a paramedic on the scene. His survival – along with that of two-year-old Kleiber Moran, rescued six days after the quakes – raises a question many ask when disasters strike: how do people survive for so long under the rubble?
The twin earthquakes hit Venezuela on 24 June 2026, killing nearly 2,300 people and leaving tens of thousands missing. In the immediate aftermath, international rescue teams from Chile, Costa Rica, Mexico, Jordan, the UK and other countries rushed to affected areas. Kleiber was pulled from the ruins of his home in La Guaira state by a Jordanian team; rescuers from the UK had also tried to reach him. Hernán Gil, a security guard, had been on duty in a small concrete booth in the basement of a shopping mall parking lot. The booth created a shell around him, protecting him from the tonnes of debris that collapsed above. Rescuers were able to pass him water, attach an intravenous drip and later a face mask and goggles as they worked to free him.
“How people survive for days trapped under rubble after earthquakes, using the Venezuela twin earthquakes as a case study.”
Survival under rubble depends on several factors. The first is the presence of a void space – an air pocket formed when heavy objects like concrete slabs or tables create a cavity. Hernán Gil's concrete booth acted as such a void. Access to water is critical; dehydration is often the biggest threat. Rescue teams can sometimes reach survivors with fluids through small openings, as they did with Gil. Injuries also play a role – Kleiber Moran had no fractures, only scratches, which made his rescue far more straightforward. The psychological state of the trapped person matters too; Gil was able to communicate with rescuers and follow instructions, such as turning his head toward a camera and wearing protective gear.
For UK readers, these events offer a window into the global nature of earthquake rescue and the importance of building standards. While the UK is not in a seismically active zone, British search-and-rescue teams regularly deploy abroad, as they did in Venezuela. The UK also has building regulations that include provisions for earthquake resistance in critical infrastructure. Understanding how rescues work can also inform personal preparedness: knowing to stay near strong furniture or structural columns during shaking, and how to signal your location if trapped.
Q: How long can people survive trapped under rubble? Survival beyond 72 hours is rare but possible if the person has access to air, water and protection from crushing injuries. The "golden hours" for rescue are the first 72, but cases like Hernán Gil (eight days) or Kleiber Moran (six days) show that with good void spaces and rapid supply of fluids, survival can stretch much longer.
Q: How do rescuers find and reach people buried in rubble? Rescuers use listening devices, thermal imaging cameras, and trained dogs to locate survivors. They then carefully dig access ducts, often shoring up debris to prevent collapses. In Hernán Gil's case, parts of the duct collapsed several times, highlighting the danger. They also pass cameras and microphones to communicate and assess the person's condition.
Q: What can I do to increase my chances of surviving an earthquake collapse? During shaking, drop, cover and hold on – ideally under a sturdy table. Avoid doorways. If trapped, try to create an air pocket near your face, cover your mouth to avoid dust inhalation, and tap on pipes or walls to help rescuers locate you. Do not shout unless you hear voices, as shouting uses energy and can inhale dust.
What happens next in Venezuela is uncertain. The death toll is still rising, and tens of thousands remain missing. For survivors like Kleiber, the focus is on recovery – his aunt Andreína Sarmiento told the BBC she will care for him “with a mother's warmth” while his parents remain missing. The international rescue operation is likely to continue, but the window for finding more survivors is closing. The stories of Gil and Kleiber will remain as examples of hope and the extraordinary efforts of disaster responders worldwide.