Rescuers Pull Dog Giselle From Venezuela Rubble After 5 Days as Quake Toll Tops 1,900
Updated
Updated · CBS New York · Jul 1
Rescuers Pull Dog Giselle From Venezuela Rubble After 5 Days as Quake Toll Tops 1,900
3 articles · Updated · CBS New York · Jul 1
Summary
Five days after Venezuela’s twin earthquakes, an El Salvador rescue team pulled a small dog named Giselle from a collapsed building in Caraballeda, La Guaira, after hearing barking from a dark crevice.
Bukele said the operation took 5 hours; video showed Giselle licking her rescuer and later being fed by syringe as teams sought to identify her owner.
The rescue came as international crews kept searching for survivors, including 44-year-old security guard Hernán Gil Flores, trapped for 6 days under a partially collapsed 10-story building amid dangerous aftershocks.
The June 24 quakes—magnitude 7.5 and 7.2, striking within a minute—have killed more than 1,900 people, destroyed thousands of buildings and left tens of thousands missing, according to the U.N.
Can Venezuela's devastated cities be rebuilt to survive the next inevitable megaquake?
With sanctions temporarily eased for aid, can Venezuela's recovery overcome its deep-rooted political and economic crisis?
How will this rare 'doublet' earthquake change seismic hazard predictions for other at-risk regions globally?
After the 2026 Venezuela Earthquakes: Human and Animal Resilience, $6.7 Billion in Losses, and the Road to Recovery
Overview
Following Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes, the rescue of Giselle, a dog trapped for five days under rubble in Caraballeda, became a symbol of hope and resilience. Her survival highlighted the tireless efforts of around 30,000 Venezuelan emergency workers and 2,700 international specialists, including elite U.S. teams, who searched through debris using highly trained search dogs. These coordinated rescue operations not only saved lives but also lifted the spirits of communities facing immense loss. Giselle’s story, alongside the broader rescue efforts, underscores the enduring strength and unity shown by both people and animals during Venezuela’s crisis.