Two 11-year-old boys were rescued alive after being trapped for more than 72 hours in the aftermath of two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on Wednesday. The twin quakes, measuring magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, caused widespread devastation, with the death toll rising to at least 1,450.

The first boy, identified as Moises Calzadilla, was extracted from rubble after rescuers spent six hours conducting precise operations to reach him. Footage captured his removal from twisted debris, a moment that brought a rare note of hope amid the widespread destruction.

Just three hours later, Venezuela’s acting president, Delcy Rodriguez, announced the rescue of another 11-year-old boy in Caraballeda, located in La Guaira, the region hardest hit by the earthquakes. Video footage showed the boy being carried away on a stretcher from a large pile of wreckage.

Rescue teams continue to face challenges, including ongoing aftershocks that hamper their efforts and pose risks to both survivors and responders. Compounding difficulties, a specialized team of 11 British volunteers, organized by the charity Serve On, found themselves stranded at Madrid airport for over 24 hours, delaying their deployment to Venezuela. Team leader Vernon Young expressed urgency for the group to reach the disaster zone as soon as possible to support local rescue operations.