A British search and rescue team has recovered a newborn baby alive from the debris of a collapsed building in Caracas, Venezuela. The operation, part of a multinational humanitarian response, has been described by officials as nothing short of miraculous.
The infant, believed to be no more than a few days old, was found trapped beneath concrete slabs following a 6.7 magnitude earthquake that struck the Venezuelan capital on Tuesday. The tremor caused significant destruction, with dozens of buildings collapsing and hundreds reported missing.
British rescue workers from the International Search and Rescue (ISAR) team, deployed under the UK’s Rapid Response Mechanism, located the child using specialised listening devices. The extraction took over four hours, with the team carefully removing debris to avoid further collapse. The newborn was found in a small air pocket, protected from the worst of the falling masonry.
Dr. Maria Gonzalez, head of the local medical team, stated that the baby is in stable condition and has been transferred to a field hospital for observation. “Given the circumstances, this is a remarkable outcome. The child will require assessment for dehydration and minor injuries, but there are no life-threatening conditions,” she said.
The British team leader, Commander James Hartley, praised the coordination with Venezuelan emergency services. “This was a complex and hazardous environment. Our teams worked tirelessly, and the result speaks to their skill and dedication,” he said.
The earthquake has reignited debate over building standards in Caracas, where many structures are poorly constructed and lack seismic reinforcement. The British government has offered additional humanitarian aid and technical expertise in the recovery effort.
As operations continue, rescue teams are racing against time to find other survivors. The recovery of this infant has provided a rare moment of hope in an otherwise devastating crisis.
