Two earthquakes in Venezuela on Wednesday have killed over 1,400 people and left hundreds more missing. A U.S. search and rescue team managed to pull a mother and her nine-month-old baby from the rubble of a collapsed building.
The Virginia Task Force 1 Urban Search and Rescue team shared videos showing its members rescuing the woman and the baby wrapped in blue fabric. The baby was heard crying as it was being rescued.
Both the woman and the baby sustained only minor injuries, according to the rescue team. The U.S. State Department emphasized that every life saved is a victory.
The rescue operation involved nearly 250 specialized civilian rescuers from the U.S., along with aid planes, mobile hospitals, and an amphibious military ship. Volunteers from Mexico, El Salvador, Switzerland, and other countries were also operating in Venezuela.
The situation has worsened as people have taken matters into their own hands, digging through rubble to search for loved ones due to a lack of government aid. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez stated that the Venezuelan government is mounting a full response, with about 200 people rescued so far. However, online databases indicate around 51,000 remain missing.
The two quakes occurred within a minute and had a shallow depth, causing massive surface impact. Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours crucial for rescues but extend this timeframe if food and water are accessible.
Diana Sandrano vowed to continue searching for her missing brother until he is found.