Rescue teams in Venezuela recovered a 43-year-old man alive eight days after a pair of devastating earthquakes struck the country, officials and witnesses reported Thursday. The man, identified as security guard Hernan Gil, was found buried under the rubble of a collapsed seven-story building in Catia La Mar, a coastal city severely damaged by the twin quakes on June 24.

Gil’s rescue marked a rare success amid a tragic aftermath that has left thousands dead and many more missing. Venezuela’s official death toll has climbed to nearly 2,300, with over 11,000 people reported injured. Hundreds of rescuers from seven countries, including Venezuela, Chile, the United States, Portugal, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Mexico, collaborated around the clock for three days to reach and extract Gil from the debris.

During the complex operation, rescuers carefully cleared rubble in the building’s parking area and dug a narrow three-meter tunnel to reach Gil. To sustain him, they administered more than 10 liters of water via a hose and provided oxygen through an inserted tube. Cristian Vera, head of the Chilean rescue team involved in the effort, described the process as challenging, emphasizing the difficulty in reaching the precise location where Gil was trapped.

Gil’s wife, Gusbimar Gonzalez, called the event a miracle as rescuers continued their work. A similar case raised hope earlier in the week when a three-year-old boy was rescued alive six days after the earthquakes. However, authorities acknowledge that finding additional survivors alive has become increasingly unlikely.

The twin earthquakes, measured at 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, wrought widespread destruction across Venezuela, a country already burdened by long-standing economic crisis that has weakened infrastructure and public health systems. Satellite imagery from NASA estimated almost 60,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed in the disaster.

The humanitarian situation remains critical, with many displaced residents lacking basic necessities such as food, clean water, and shelter. Hospitals face overwhelming demand, and experts have warned of potential disease outbreaks resulting from unsanitary conditions and resource shortages.

Venezuelan National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez confirmed the rising death toll and highlighted the extensive injuries sustained by survivors. As recovery efforts continue, the focus is shifting from search and rescue to providing aid and support to those affected by the disaster.