Jesus Garcia Rescues 3 Relatives From Collapsed Ritasol Palace After 7.2 Quake
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 5
Jesus Garcia Rescues 3 Relatives From Collapsed Ritasol Palace After 7.2 Quake
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 5
Summary
More than 20 hours after twin quakes struck La Guaira, former firefighter Jesus Garcia helped pull his father Jose and brothers Diego, 7, and Santiago, 12, from the rubble of the 11-storey Ritasol Palace.
A 7.2-magnitude earthquake at about 6:04 p.m. on June 24, followed within seconds by a stronger tremor, pancaked the building and left the three trapped in the basement until police specialists arrived with a jackhammer.
Jose and the boys survived with relatively minor injuries, but Jose's wife remains under the debris 11 days later as he watches international teams continue searching the site.
Venezuela has confirmed 3,342 deaths, with more than 50,000 people missing; the government says 856 buildings were damaged and 190 collapsed.
The disaster is Venezuela's deadliest in more than a century, and survivors and aid workers say uncertainty has deepened amid criticism of a slow, inadequate government response.
Why did so many buildings pancake in Venezuela’s quake when solutions exist?
Venezuela’s rare 'doublet' quake was devastating. Are other cities prepared for one?
With aid blocked and the state failing, who is really saving Venezuela's survivors?
Venezuela Earthquakes of June 2026: Over 3,500 Dead, 18,000 Homeless, and the Race to Rescue Survivors
Overview
On June 24, 2026, devastating earthquakes struck Venezuela, leading to a harrowing ordeal for the Garcia family. Jose Garcia and his two young sons, Diego and Santiago, were trapped for over 20 hours beneath the rubble of the Ritasol Palace in La Guaira. Their survival was made possible by the determined efforts of firefighter Jesus Garcia, his friend, and a specialist police squad, who located and rescued them. Throughout the terrifying experience, Jose Garcia stayed brave for his children. The successful rescue brought immense relief and gratitude, forever changing the lives of the Garcia family.