Caraballeda, La Guaira, Venezuela – International rescue teams successfully rescued Hernan Alberto Gil Flores, 44, alive after he spent more than seven days trapped beneath the collapsed Galerias Playa Grande shopping center.

The rescue operation lasted more than 72 hours inside an extremely unstable nine-story structure. Rescue crews battled repeated tunnel collapses, aftershocks, rain, and were forced to open a second access tunnel after the original route repeatedly became unsafe.

Throughout the operation, rescuers maintained communication with the trapped man and continued supplying him with liquids to keep him hydrated while crews worked to reach him. Officials said they did not rule out returning to the original tunnel if conditions allowed.

The rescue was made possible through the combined efforts of teams from Chile, the United States, Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela, and El Salvador, who worked without stopping to remove debris, stabilize the structure, and clear a path to the survivor.

After more than seven days beneath the rubble, the 44-year-old was pulled out alive. Officials praised both the rescuers who took part in the operation and the survivor for his extraordinary strength and resilience.

Doctors are now evaluating his condition before he is transferred to a hospital to continue receiving the medical care he needs.

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