Story perspectives

12-Year-Old Rescued After 32 Hours; Quake Kills Over 3,500

7/7/2026

Summary

Story summary

A video of 12-year-old Fabiana Blanco smiling after rescuers pulled her from rubble went viral across Venezuela.
Fabiana Blanco was rescued after 32 hours trapped in Caraballeda, volunteer Viktor stayed, encouraged her and relayed her status.
Officials confirmed at least 3,535 deaths, 16,740 injuries and 18,000 homeless from the June 24 twin earthquakes.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez visited Hernán Gil, freed after eight days under 140 tonnes of rubble, calling him a living miracle.

History

Historical Context

The 1906 San Francisco earthquake on April 18, magnitude 7.9, killed between 700 and 3,000 people and left up to 300,000 homeless, prompting Congress to appropriate $2.5 million and spurring new building codes and federal disaster coordination. Those reforms shape today’s response to the June 24 twin quakes in Caraballeda, Venezuela, where thousands are dead and relief efforts echo the century-old lessons.

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Story summary

A video of 12-year-old Fabiana Blanco smiling after rescuers pulled her from rubble went viral across Venezuela.
Fabiana Blanco was rescued after 32 hours trapped in Caraballeda, volunteer Viktor stayed, encouraged her and relayed her status.
Officials confirmed at least 3,535 deaths, 16,740 injuries and 18,000 homeless from the June 24 twin earthquakes.
Acting President Delcy Rodríguez visited Hernán Gil, freed after eight days under 140 tonnes of rubble, calling him a living miracle.

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