After 8 days buried under earthquake rubble, Hernán Alberto Gil Flores is rescued in Venezuelan ‘miracle’

Friends, family members and a coalition of rescue workers from seven countries celebrated Thursday after a man who was trapped under the rubble of a nine-story shopping mall following twin 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes in Venezuela was rescued alive.

The man, 44-year-old Hernán Alberto Gil Flores, was working as a security guard at the Galerias Playa Grande shopping center in La Guaira when the earthquakes struck on June 24, collapsing the building.

President of El Salvador Nayib Bukele, who has been chronicling Flores’ rescue along with others on his social media, thanked God for the “miracle” of his survival in a statement on Facebook Thursday.

“After more than 72 hours of work and after facing a highly unstable structure, aftershocks, collapses and the need to open a new access path to be able to reach it, we rescued alive Hernán Alberto Gil Flores, 44 years old, who remained trapped for more than 7 days under the rubble of the Gallerias Playa Grande mall,” Bukele said.

In addition to rescue workers from El Salvador, Chile, and the United States, Bukele said workers from Portugal, Mexico and Costa Rica also “worked tirelessly” to save Flores.

“Our admiration and recognition [is] for all the rescuers who participated in this operation, as well as for Hernán, whose strength and resilience for more than 7 days were extraordinary,” Bukele said. “At this time, doctors are evaluating his condition so he can be transferred to a hospital facility and continue to receive the care he needs. Thank God for allowing this miracle.”

Firefighters from Chile shared video of Flores’ rescue, as well as others of him waiting patiently to be freed while stuck under the rubble with gaunt features and a bruised right eye.

Flores’ wife, Gusvimar Gonzales, told CNN moments before he was rescued that she experienced “days of great sorrow” after the earthquakes. She said she thought he was likely dead, but news that he was still alive felt like a “ray of sunshine.”

“Once I found out that he was alive, I saw a ray of sunshine,” she said. “He was holding up like a hero.”

Flores’ rescue comes as the confirmed death toll from the twin earthquakes that rocked the South American nation reached nearly 2,600 Thursday, and an estimated 50,000 people remain missing.

Late Thursday, Bukele said in another statement that while “every saved life represents a tremendous hope,” the work of his team in Venezuela also includes bringing humanitarian aid to survivors.

“Our teams also work tirelessly bringing humanitarian aid to those who need it most, with food, drinking water, medicine, medical supplies and everything necessary to strengthen the response to this emergency,” he said.

World Central Kitchen, a nonprofit organization founded by celebrity chef José Andrés that provides fresh meals to communities impacted by natural disasters, climate crises and conflicts, announced Friday that it has launched a hub near La Guaira with the capacity to serve up to 30,000 meals daily.

“Current assessments indicate that thousands of people continue to require humanitarian food assistance. WCK is coordinating closely with local partners and other humanitarian organizations to maximize coverage while avoiding duplication of efforts,” the organization said.

“In addition to meal service, WCK is providing water, ice, and other essential items to families facing prolonged power outages and extreme temperatures. We have also established meal distributions at shelters, hospitals, and the Caracas morgue, where families continue to gather as they await news of missing loved ones.”