Story perspectives

International Teams Rescue Survivor from Venezuela Mall Collapse

7/2/2026

Summary

Story summary

Rescuers freed 43-year-old Hernán Alberto Gil Flores from the collapsed Galerías Playa Grande mall in La Guaira on July 2, 2026.
Teams from Chile, Costa Rica, the United States, Portugal, Mexico, El Salvador and Venezuela joined the rescue.
A telescopic camera kept visual contact while Gil Flores drew pictures in his final hours.
The June 24 quakes measured 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, killing over 2,200, injuring 11,000+ and destroying tens of thousands of buildings.

1 of 1

Story summary

Rescuers freed 43-year-old Hernán Alberto Gil Flores from the collapsed Galerías Playa Grande mall in La Guaira on July 2, 2026.
Teams from Chile, Costa Rica, the United States, Portugal, Mexico, El Salvador and Venezuela joined the rescue.
A telescopic camera kept visual contact while Gil Flores drew pictures in his final hours.
The June 24 quakes measured 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude, killing over 2,200, injuring 11,000+ and destroying tens of thousands of buildings.