On Monday, Lucas Gámez marks his ninth birthday, trapped beneath the rubble of the Miramar building in La Guaira. He has been there since June 24, when two powerful earthquakes struck northern Venezuela. Twelve days later, rescue teams continue their relentless efforts to find him, while his parents cling to the hope of discovering him alive.
His mother, Blancalida Martínez Coronado, and father, Marcos Gámez, have remained steadfastly by the building, praying for a miracle to reunite them with their son.
Lucas, born in Argentina and raised in Buenos Aires until January of this year, was visiting relatives in the Miramar building when the earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, caused it to collapse. Rescuers have been conducting operations to reach the area where he is believed to be trapped.
Initially, thermal cameras detected signs of life, but those signals have since weakened. Rescuers interviewed by Telediarios of Spanish Television (TVE) describe some signals as "almost nonexistent." Despite this, international crews—including Argentine teams and the USAR El Salvador group—are attempting to create a second access point to improve the chances of reaching Lucas.
The rescuers carefully work by hand, cutting through metal with torches and breaking debris with sledgehammers, to prevent heavy machinery from causing further collapse.
In the early hours of Sunday, a sound test using the mother's voice was conducted to detect movement or heartbeats. "They did a sound test with my voice at 5 a.m. because of the silence, but we haven't had a response yet. We'll have results soon, as it can detect even heartbeats," Blancalida explained to Argentina's C5N network. The results remain unknown.
On Monday, geolocation expert Taylor Villarreal pinpointed the exact height of Lucas's phone using its microchip. "The phone is off, but it can still be located," he noted, sharing this information with rescuers to guide their search.
Blancalida remains hopeful. "I have a lot of faith. Last night, we managed to rescue a small turtle. Life is still emerging, there's air in there," she told C5N.
On Lucas's ninth birthday, she holds firm in her belief: "I ask everyone to pray a lot from their homes because I believe faith can move mountains, and I am very hopeful," she expressed to TVE cameras.
The boy's birthday sparked a wave of messages on social media. Venezuelan comedian Kristopher Kerezsy shared a message that Lucas's mother posted online: "While many children are blowing out birthday candles today, he has taught us that hope can remain alive even in darkness. Happy birthday, Lucas. May the best gift of your ninth year be coming home alive."
A message also arrived from Carlos Páez, a survivor of the 1972 Andes plane crash, who spent 70 days stranded in the mountains. In a video addressed to Blancalida, Páez recalled that his own mother never stopped praying: "54 years later, I am here, and I believe your fight is worthwhile, your faith is moving, and it touches me deeply."
The June 24 earthquakes have, according to the Venezuelan government's official data, claimed 3,535 lives and injured 16,740 people as of Monday. However, the United Nations (UN) estimates that between 50,000 and 55,000 people are still missing. Young Lucas is one of the many faces of a tragedy that is far from over.
Key Questions About the La Guaira Earthquake Tragedy
What is the current status of Lucas Gámez?
Lucas Gámez remains trapped under the rubble of the Miramar building in La Guaira since the June 24 earthquakes. Rescuers are tirelessly working to reach him, but the situation is challenging.
How are rescue efforts being conducted at the Miramar building?
Rescue teams are working manually to avoid further collapse, using torches and sledgehammers to clear debris and create access points to reach Lucas.
What are the estimated casualties from the June 24 earthquakes?
Officially, 3,535 deaths and 16,740 injuries have been reported by the Venezuelan government, but the UN estimates there are between 50,000 and 55,000 missing people.