Venezuela earthquake infant rescue: U.S. search-and-rescue teams pulled a 9-month-old infant alive from beneath collapsed concrete in Catia La Mar, the U.S. Department of State said, sharing video of the dramatic extraction as crews worked more than 72 hours after twin earthquakes struck the northern coast.
“Against impossible odds, hope endures,” the State Department wrote alongside the video, which shows coordinated lifting and listening techniques used to free the child from voids amid shattered concrete and rebar.
Venezuela earthquake infant rescue: the Catia La Mar pull
The pull took place in Catia La Mar, a coastal city badly damaged when magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 quakes struck. Video shared by the U.S. Department of State and circulated by news outlets shows Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue (USA-01) specialists carefully breaching and isolating a void to extract the infant.
Officials said the infant and her mother were conscious when removed. On-site medical staff provided first aid before transfer to local health facilities for further assessment. Venezuelan and U.S. officials emphasized that these accounts remain provisional as after-action checks and medical evaluations continue.
U.S. USAR response and capabilities on the ground
The Fairfax County Urban Search and Rescue unit (USA-01) led the extraction, the U.S. Department of State said. Three U.S. USAR teams deployed from Virginia, California and Florida to augment international response and operate alongside local crews.
According to U.S. official tallies cited by the State Department, the U.S. contingents included roughly 312 personnel and 18 canine teams and carried more than 200,000 pounds of specialized rescue equipment. That equipment list included concrete-breaching tools, acoustic listening devices and field medical supplies used to detect and stabilize trapped survivors.
Teams on site combined structural engineers, firefighters, physicians and canine search specialists. Canine teams and acoustic sensors were prioritized in densely damaged neighborhoods where void survival pockets remained most likely, officials said.
Casualties, missing and rescue totals
Venezuelan officials reported a provisional death toll of 1,430 as of Saturday evening; authorities described the figure as subject to revision as search operations continue and local registries are updated. The Associated Press has reported that more than 68,000 people remain unaccounted for nationwide; that number may change as teams reach remote areas and communications are restored.
Earlier in the response, authorities said rescue crews had pulled 243 people from wreckage. Officials cautioned repeatedly that casualty and missing-person counts are fluid in a disaster of this scale, especially where transport and communications have been disrupted.
What comes next for relief and search efforts
Venezuelan authorities said 17 flights carrying more than 1,600 rescue personnel had arrived to support operations; international teams and NGOs also are coordinating logistics, shelter and medical aid. U.S. officials announced a pledge of $150 million in emergency assistance to support immediate rescue and humanitarian needs, including water, shelter and medical care.
Search-and-rescue priorities in the coming days include targeted operations in La Guaira, Catia La Mar and heavily damaged districts of Caracas where structural collapse risk remains high. Teams will continue to use canine units, listening devices and structural assessments to guide safe breaching; authorities note that chances of finding live survivors decline with time, though access to food and water can extend survival windows in some cases.
Background and context
The twin quakes struck the northern Venezuelan coast, producing widespread structural damage, landslides and ruptured infrastructure. International relief organizations have mobilized to assist in search, medical response and emergency sheltering while governments coordinate transport and logistics for sustained operations.
Local authorities and international partners have warned residents to expect evolving casualty figures and to follow official guidance as recovery progresses.
Source attribution and official statements
This report draws on statements and social posts from the U.S. Department of State, reporting from Fox News Digital and figures cited by The Associated Press. Specific numbers—312 U.S. personnel, 18 canine teams, 200,000 pounds of equipment, 17 flights with more than 1,600 rescue personnel, a $150 million U.S. pledge, a provisional death toll of 1,430 and more than 68,000 missing—were provided by U.S. and Venezuelan officials or reported by the AP and are provisional as authorities continue searches and verification.
For the initial on-the-ground account and the State Department video, see Fox News Digital’s coverage: American rescue teams pull infant alive from rubble in Venezuela. The U.S. Department of State provided action updates and personnel tallies in public statements and social posts.
Reporting and numbers are provisional and subject to change as officials update tallies and search operations continue.
