local
Man pulled from rubble in ‘miraculous’ rescue 8 days after devastating Venezuela earthquakes
By CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7
· July 2, 2026
· 5 min read
By Helen Regan, Osmary Hernandez, Ivonne Valdes, Chandler Thornton, Diego Mendoza, CNN
La Guaira, Venezuela (CNN) — Sigue nuestra cobertura en español
Rescuers pulled a man from under the rubble of a nine-story building in Venezuela in a “miraculous” operation eight days after the devastating...
Key takeaway Hernán Alberto Gil Flores was buried under 29-feet of wreckage from a collapsed shopping mall parking lot in La Guaira, was freed on Thursday amid a delicate days-long effort by local and international rescue teams.
Why this matters in The El Paso
The dramatic rescue efforts in Venezuela serve as a stark reminder of the critical role that emergency preparedness and response play in saving lives. In El Paso , a city prone to its own natural disasters, the story of Hernán Alberto Gil Flores resonates deeply. As the community watches the unfolding rescue operation, it's a timely reminder to revisit local emergency response plans and protocols. The "golden window" for finding survivors, typically within three days of a disaster, underscores the need for swift and effective action. El Paso's own emergency responders have likely been following the developments in Venezuela, taking note of the complex rescue operation and the international cooperation involved. The city's residents can draw comfort from knowing that local responders are trained to handle similar situations, and that the community has a robust emergency response system in place to respond to disasters and save lives.
About this story
Original reporting by KVIA ABC-7 . The El Paso 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 KVIA ABC-7 . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 2, 2026 ·
Source: KVIA ABC-7 ·
Reading time: 5 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? By Helen Regan, Osmary Hernandez, Ivonne Valdes, Chandler Thornton, Diego Mendoza, CNN
La Guaira, Venezuela (CNN) — Sigue nuestra cobertura en español
Rescuers pulled a man from under the rubble of a nine-story building in Venezuela in a “miraculous” operation eight days after the devastating...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 2, 2026 by KVIA ABC-7 and curated for The El Paso readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by CNN Newsource at KVIA ABC-7. To learn more about how The El Paso selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The El Paso, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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