In the wake of the devastating earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24, the Mexican Army has successfully rescued two people alive, including a 9-year-old boy trapped under rubble. This morning, June 29, Mexico City’s Head of Government, Claudia Sheinbaum, confirmed the second rescue carried out by Mexican forces in the disaster zone.

The rescue took place in Vargas municipality, La Guaira, an area officially declared a disaster zone due to the extensive damage. Members of the Mexican Humanitarian Aid Unit ‘Yumare’ responded to a collapsed building on Avenida Corales, where reports indicated a child was trapped in an isolated space. Using call-and-listen techniques, rescuers located the boy and, after six continuous hours of cutting, penetrating, and removing debris, they freed him alive.

Once rescued, the child received immediate medical attention from the Mexican Army’s Sanitation Service team on site before being transferred to the Victims Concentration Area at the Vargas Military Camp.

This operation highlights the vital role of international rescue teams in restoring hope to Venezuelans amid this crisis. Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s acting president, praised the solidarity and efforts of rescue workers from various countries during a meeting on Sunday, June 28. She emphasized that their arrival brought hope to affected communities and complemented the tireless work of Venezuelan rescuers since the first moments after the earthquakes.

Official figures report 1,450 deaths and 3,238 injuries caused by the twin quakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. By Saturday, approximately 1,600 rescuers had arrived in Venezuela to assist in search and recovery operations, with 25 more flights expected to bring additional teams in the coming hours, according to Oliver Blanco, Venezuela’s Deputy Minister for Europe and North America.

Countries contributing rescue personnel this week include El Salvador, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Switzerland, Ecuador, Spain, Chile, Colombia, the Netherlands, Italy, and the United States. On the early hours of Sunday, June 28, delegations from India arrived to set up a field hospital, alongside Costa Rican rescue teams, as reported by Venezuela’s Ministry of Communication and Information.

The Mexican Army’s involvement not only underscores Mexico’s commitment to humanitarian aid but also reflects the importance of coordinated international response in times of disaster—offering a lifeline to vulnerable populations and reinforcing the value of solidarity across borders.