An incredible story of survival emerged from the devastation caused by the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24. A mother and her three children were found alive after spending 11 days trapped under the rubble of a building in La Guaira, while the official death toll from the tragedy has risen to 3,685.

Venezuela continues to assess the damage following the double earthquake on June 24, with authorities announcing a new, higher death toll.

According to the country’s government, the death toll now stands at 3,685, while the number of injured has reached 16,740. The previous official toll was 3,535.

Authorities have not provided an official estimate of the number of missing persons. The UN estimates that the number could be as high as 50,000, while other sources put the figure closer to 10,000.

A miracle amid the rubble after 11 days

Amid the tragedy, the rescue of a mother and her three children in La Guaira moved many.

The family was found alive beneath the rubble of the OPP building, where they had been trapped since the earthquakes on June 24.

International aid teams have helped carry out Venezuela’s “miracle rescues” after the twin earthquakes struck, but are now preparing to leave.

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Thousands are still searching for relatives in the rubble as frustration grows over the government’s response. pic.twitter.com/t2zJgPkcRs

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) July 6, 2026

The woman managed to keep her children alive for 11 days, feeding them breast milk until rescuers arrived.

They were located thanks to the relentless efforts of search and rescue teams from various countries, as well as volunteers who continue to work in the affected areas.

The story of the mother and her children is considered one of the most remarkable survival stories following the earthquakes that struck the country.

A Venezuelan mother kept her three children alive by breastfeeding them for 11 days after they were trapped under the rubble of a building in La Guaira, Venezuela, following the earthquakes.

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They were all rescued alive thanks to the tireless efforts of the… pic.twitter.com/g3cUdcXbOF

— Anonimo.sv (@AnonimoSV503) July 7, 2026

Tens of thousands of buildings have been destroyed

The destruction is immense; according to initial estimates, approximately 60,000 buildings have been damaged or destroyed.

At the same time, experts are warning of a new health crisis, as thousands of displaced citizens are sleeping in temporary shelters or outdoors without access to clean water.

Thousands of people remain with untreated injuries, while fears are growing about the spread of infectious diseases, with the country’s healthcare system struggling to cope.

The scenes from La Guaira in Venezuela are apocalyptic, my God…. pic.twitter.com/xVLlxV2kkk

— Raymond Azar (@RaymondAzarM) July 4, 2026

Fears of infections and the spread of disease

“The problem we see coming is the infections that may develop in patients who have been exposed for a long time to the conditions of the disaster,” said Eugenio Kova, head of the trauma unit at the José Gregorio Hernández Hospital in Caracas.

“We have already gone through a period of complex injuries, which will continue, but now the situation is complicated by infections,” he added.

There are already increased reports of health problems in the affected areas.

Al Jazeera correspondent Teresa Bo reported from a shelter in La Guaira that there are numerous reports of cases of diarrhea and other illnesses.

“They are asking, for example, for portable toilets and for help from the government to reorganize the area, prevent overcrowding, and stop the spread of disease,” she said.

Outrage Over the Authorities’ Response

The delay in rescue and recovery operations has sparked intense discontent among citizens, with many taking matters into their own hands to locate survivors and distribute aid.

Carolina Jiménez, president of the Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA), told Al Jazeera that the situation has led to growing anger toward the state.

“In any other country, the state would be the first to respond. In the case of Venezuela, the state was the last to respond,” she said.

According to her, in areas such as Catia la Mar, north of Caracas, the presence of authorities remains inadequate.

“The response came from citizens, from civil society, from humanitarian workers, and from volunteers—but not from the government,” she said.

Source: Proto Thema