In brief
After twin earthquakes shook Venezuela, Jordanian and UK rescuers lifted a two‑year‑old boy from six days under rubble in La Guaira. The boy’s aunt, Andreína Sarmiento, declared she will look after him with mother‑like care until his parents are found. Despite the lack of serious injuries, the child is showing signs of comfort and the family remains hopeful about the missing parents. The ongoing crisis saw over 2,200 deaths and many missing residents. The rescue is hailed as a symbol of hope amid rising death tolls.
A 23‑year‑old aunt, Andreína Sarmiento, stands at a hospital in Caracas holding the rescued two‑year‑old boy Kleiber Moran, whose life was saved after six days under the rubble of his home in La Guaira, northern Venezuela.
After the twin earthquakes that shook the country on Wednesday, rescue teams from the UK and Jordan were called in to dig through collapsed buildings. Kleiber was pulled from the coffin‑like wreckage early on Tuesday.
Delcy Rodríguez, Venezuela’s interim president, hailed the rescue as “a source of hope for our people” as death tolls climb.
Andreína told the BBC she will look after Kleiber with “mother’s warmth” until his mother Ana Luz and father Carlos, who are still missing, return.
She said she was in tears when her sister called to announce the rescue, then hurried to place Kleiber beside her.
Despite the boy’s injuries being mild—just scratches—Kleiber has begun to show signs of comfort, even kissing his aunt and speaking.
Andreína remains hopeful the missing parents will be found, noting that her sister was always by the child’s side during his life before the disaster.
The ongoing national crisis sees 2,295 deaths officially recorded, with many more suspected, and tens of thousands still missing.