29/06/2026 15:38 - Actualidad
The tragedy unfolding in Venezuela since June 24, 2026 continues to produce stories of hope. Amidst the devastation caused by earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, a 21-year-old young man managed to emerge alive after spending 106 hours under the rubble of a collapsed building.
Aarón Levi Cantillo Vargas was rescued in the town of Caraballeda, located in La Guaira state—the region most affected by the earthquakes. La Guaira is a coastal state in northern Venezuela, approximately 30 miles (50 km) from the capital city of Caracas, known for its beaches and mountainous terrain. The rescue operation required a coordinated international effort between teams from Venezuela, Mexico, and El Salvador.
Venezuela's Acting President Delcy Rodríguez reported that the rescue operation extended for 43 hours from the moment they located Aaron alive. The complexity of the rescue was due to the fact that the body of a deceased person was positioned between the rescuers and the young man, as reported by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele.
During the long hours he remained trapped, a doctor managed to administer fluids to keep him hydrated—a crucial procedure to increase survival chances in such situations. This medical intervention was essential given the extreme conditions of being trapped under collapsed concrete and debris.
Aaron is currently receiving specialized medical attention, while rescue teams continue working in the search for more survivors. The psychological and physical toll of spending more than four days trapped under rubble requires extensive medical evaluation and care.
The earthquakes of June 24, 2026 have left a devastating balance in Venezuela:
| Category | Number |
|---|---|
| Confirmed Deaths | More than 1,450 |
| Injured | More than 3,150 |
| Missing Persons | Approximately 70,000 |
| Buildings Affected in La Guaira | 774 |
La Guaira state has been the hardest hit area, with hundreds of collapsed buildings. Teams from 24 countries have sent humanitarian aid, with more than 2,741 rescuers and 137 search dogs working on rescue tasks. This international response demonstrates the global solidarity and cooperation in disaster response.
Aaron's rescue adds to other extraordinary survival stories:
Argentina also participated actively: Bart, a rescue dog from the Argentine team, located two minors alive under the rubble in La Guaira. Search dogs are specially trained animals capable of detecting human scent through meters of debris.
A life rescue in natural disasters involves the location and extraction of survivors trapped under rubble. Specialized teams use:
The critical time window for finding survivors is typically 72 hours, though cases like Aaron's demonstrate that it is possible to exceed that limit with proper hydration and conditions.
On Monday June 29, 2026, an aftershock of magnitude 4.6 shook the area near Caracas, according to reports from Venezuelan authorities. No additional damage was reported, but rescuers maintain extreme precautions. Aftershocks are smaller earthquakes that follow the main seismic event and can further destabilize already damaged structures.
Various countries and organizations have donated aid:
Real Madrid is one of the most famous football clubs in the world, and Florentino Pérez is its president—a significant gesture of solidarity from the sports world.
Five days after the tragedy, rescue teams continue working tirelessly. Each survival story like Aaron's renews the efforts of the more than 2,700 rescuers who remain in Venezuela, demonstrating that miracles can happen even in the darkest moments.
Sources: BBC News Mundo, official data from the Government of Venezuela.
Alfredo S. Quiroga
