A Venezuelan father witnessed the astonishing rescue of his son, daughter-in-law, and grandson from the basement of a collapsed building in La Guaira. They were trapped under seven stories following the devastating earthquakes on June 24.
This remarkable rescue story, shared on Instagram by José Alberto Gallipoli Lameda, has become one of the most moving accounts of the tragedy.
The video captures the emotional moment as the three survivors are pulled from the rubble, greeted by an outpouring of relief and joy from family and friends.
"Yesterday morning, I descended into the basement of the collapsed building. The scene was bleak. With my last breath of hope, I called out my son Jofram's name. Amidst the chaos, I heard a faint whisper. They were alive," the father recounted.
According to his account, Jofram, his wife, and their young child were buried under the entire structure, which crumbled during the two quakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude that struck Venezuela just 39 seconds apart.
"Seven floors came crashing down on him and his family, yet there he was, responding from the depths. Jofram showed me what it means to be a man built on rock," the father added.
Gallipoli credited both the rescue teams and his son's resilience for their survival: "The rescuers did the heavy lifting, but his will to live held the space. The abyss is not the end; it's the workshop where unbreakable beings are forged."
The happy ending came after the father had previously shared a viral video of his desperate search for Jofram amidst the debris in La Guaira, where he found his son's crushed vehicle. This footage elicited thousands of reactions on social media before the rescue outcome was known.
"My son, daughter-in-law, and grandson are back. My family is whole. The physical structure may have fallen, but we, the true architects of life, are ready to rebuild from scratch on a stronger and more genuine foundation," Gallipoli emphasized.
"I am at a loss for words to express my gratitude to the rescuers," he concluded his message, which garnered over a million views within hours.
This family's rescue is part of a historical catastrophe. The June 24 earthquakes are the most powerful recorded in Venezuela since 1900, according to the United States Geological Survey.
The epicenter was located in Yaracuy state, Yumare municipality, at a depth of 10 to 13 kilometers, with the coastal region of La Guaira suffering the most damage. Catia la Mar, Macuto, and Caraballeda saw dozens of buildings collapse.
On Friday, interim President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed 589 fatalities and 2,980 injuries, nearly quadrupling the previous day's figures. At least 346 buildings, hospitals, and shopping centers were either collapsed or severely damaged, and over 200 aftershocks were recorded.
The international response included rescue teams from the Dominican Republic—the first country to arrive in Venezuela—El Salvador, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States. The U.S. Southern Command deployed military forces to assist, a significant gesture given the historic antagonism between Washington and Nicolás Maduro's government.
The U.S. Geological Survey warned that its probabilistic estimate system places the final number of casualties between 10,000 and 100,000 with a 42% probability, making this disaster a humanitarian emergency of uncertain scope.
Key Details on the Venezuelan Earthquake and Rescue Efforts
What magnitude were the earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24?
The earthquakes that struck Venezuela on June 24 had magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5.
How many people were confirmed dead and injured due to the earthquakes?
Interim President Delcy Rodríguez confirmed 589 deaths and 2,980 injuries from the earthquakes.
Which countries sent rescue teams to Venezuela?
Rescue teams were sent by the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Mexico, Brazil, and the United States.