parks
Man pulled from rubble in ‘miraculous’ rescue 8 days after devastating Venezuela earthquakes
By Helen Regan, Osmary Hernandez, Ivonne Valdes, Chandler Thornton, Diego Mendoza at KXXV (ABC 25) News
· July 2, 2026
· 4 min read
Rescuers pulled a man from under the rubble of a nine-story building in Venezuela in a miraculous operation eight days after the devastating earthquakes that hit the country.Hernn Alberto Gil Flores, 44, who was buried under 29-feet of wreckage from a collapsed shopping mall parking lot in La Gua...
Key takeaway He has now been transferred to a medical facility, said the fire brigade in a post on X, adding that it had taken 70 hours to rescue Gil Flores.
Why this matters in The Waco
The remarkable rescue of Hernn Alberto Gil Flores in Venezuela serves as a stark contrast to the typical response times and capabilities of local emergency services in Waco . While Waco's emergency responders are well-equipped to handle various disasters, the city's infrastructure and building codes are designed to withstand different types of natural disasters, such as tornadoes, rather than earthquakes. The fact that rescuers in Venezuela were able to locate and free Flores eight days after the earthquake is a testament to the dedication and expertise of international rescue teams. In Waco, the focus is on preparing for and responding to more common disasters, such as floods and wildfires, but the Venezuela rescue operation highlights the importance of collaboration and coordination between local and international emergency responders in the face of catastrophic events. As Waco continues to grow and develop, it is crucial for city officials to consider the lessons learned from international rescue operations and apply them to the city's own emergency response plans.
About this story
Original reporting by KXXV (ABC 25) News . The Waco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit KXXV (ABC 25) News . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: parks ·
Published: July 2, 2026 ·
Source: KXXV (ABC 25) News ·
Reading time: 4 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Rescuers pulled a man from under the rubble of a nine-story building in Venezuela in a miraculous operation eight days after the devastating earthquakes that hit the country.Hernn Alberto Gil Flores, 44, who was buried under 29-feet of wreckage from a collapsed shopping mall parking lot in La Gua...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 2, 2026 by KXXV (ABC 25) News and curated for The Waco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Helen Regan, Osmary Hernandez, Ivonne Valdes, Chandler Thornton, Diego Mendoza at KXXV (ABC 25) News. To learn more about how The Waco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more parks coverage from The Waco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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