# Trapped Under Rubble for 55 Hours, Venezuela Quake Survivor Refused to Give Up Hope

> Venezuela's earthquake death toll has risen to 2954, with 16000 people homeless and over 41000 still missing, even as survivor Juan Zapata won his fight for life after being buried under rubble for 55 hours.

**Type:** article · **Category:** World · **Published:** 2026-07-05 · **Source:** TrendKia
**Canonical:** https://trendkia.com/en/world/malabe-ke-niche-55-ghnte-taka-jinda-bache-rahane-ki-kahani-venezuela-bhuknpa-men-mauta-ke-ankare-ke-bicha-eka-chamatkara-4918 · **Language:** English
**Tags:** Venezuela earthquake, Juan Zapata, Caracas, rescue operations, earthquake death toll, La Guaira

Venezuela, a country already gripped by political turmoil, has been pushed into deeper crisis by a devastating earthquake. In the capital Caracas and several other parts of the country, rescue crews are still combing through mounds of rubble in search of survivors. Barely a week after the quake struck, the government has confirmed that the death toll has climbed to 2954. Around 16000 people have lost their homes and are now living in relief camps, while more than 41000 remain unaccounted for.

## Local and international teams race against time
Close to 30000 government personnel are working around the clock on relief and rescue operations, joined by 3281 international rescue workers who have arrived in Venezuela to help pull people from the debris. A field hospital set up to treat the injured has already admitted 400 patients, and doctors there have carried out nearly 30 surgeries. Peter Holz, the hospital's medical director, said that in the early days most patients arrived with injuries caused directly by the earthquake. The focus has now shifted to post-surgical care and longer term treatment for those already admitted.

## 55 hours under the rubble, and he never stopped hoping
Amid this devastation, the survival story of a man named Juan Zapata has become a symbol of sheer willpower. Zapata said that on the night of the quake, he had just finished dinner and was about to take a bath when violent tremors flung him from one corner of the room to another. When he regained consciousness some time later, he realised he was no longer inside his fifth floor flat but buried beneath the rubble of the collapsed building. He remained trapped there for roughly 55 hours until civil rescue workers finally reached him and pulled him out alive. Zapata has since been admitted to a hospital in La Guaira, where doctors found that several of his ribs were broken and his body bore deep wounds. Despite everything, he said that even though his home and everything he owned had been destroyed, simply surviving felt like the biggest victory of all. His phone and identity card were also lost somewhere in the rubble, which has left him unable to reach his daughter, who lives in the United States, or his sister, who lives in Canada.

## Questions raised over the pace of relief efforts
The government's handling of relief operations has come under scrutiny since the earthquake. Several local residents and volunteers allege that in the early days, relief supplies, essential medicines and heavy machinery needed to clear debris did not reach affected areas on time. The government, however, has flatly rejected these allegations. Meanwhile, ordinary citizens and rescue teams continue to work side by side in several areas, still searching for people who remain trapped. Survivors who made it out alive are now anxiously waiting for news of missing loved ones, and many families continue to accompany relief teams as they search for relatives who have not yet been found.

## What this means for you
This is a natural disaster story from Venezuela and does not directly affect readers in India.

- Anyone with family or friends in Venezuela, particularly in Caracas or La Guaira, may want to check relief camps or hotlines for updates on their safety.
- The story is a reminder of why keeping secure or digital copies of identity documents matters, since losing them during a disaster, as Juan Zapata did, can cut off contact with family abroad.

## Questions & Answers

### 1. How many people have died so far in the Venezuela earthquake?
According to the government, the death toll from the earthquake has risen to 2954.

### 2. How many people are homeless and how many are missing?
About 16000 people have been left homeless and are living in relief camps, while more than 41000 people are still reported missing.

### 3. How many people are involved in relief and rescue operations?
Around 30000 government personnel are working alongside 3281 international rescue workers on relief and rescue efforts.

### 4. How long was Juan Zapata trapped under the rubble?
Juan Zapata was trapped under the rubble for roughly 55 hours before civil rescue workers pulled him out alive.

### 5. What injuries did Juan Zapata suffer?
Several of his ribs were broken and his body suffered deep wounds; he is currently being treated at a hospital in La Guaira.

### 6. Why is Juan Zapata unable to contact his family?
His phone and identity card were lost in the earthquake, leaving him unable to reach his daughter in the United States or his sister in Canada.

### 7. How many patients has the field hospital treated so far?
The field hospital has treated 400 patients so far and carried out nearly 30 surgeries.

### 8. What questions have been raised about the relief effort?
Local residents and volunteers allege that relief supplies, medicines and heavy machinery did not reach affected areas on time in the early days, though the government has rejected these allegations.

## Inspiration & Lessons
Juan Zapata's survival shows why holding on to hope matters most in the darkest situations.

- Despite being trapped under rubble for 55 hours, Zapata never gave up, showing that patience and the will to survive can be the strongest weapon in a crisis.
- Even after losing his home and belongings, he counted simply staying alive as his biggest win, a reminder that life matters more than material loss.
- His rescue by civil rescue workers highlights how decisive collective effort and timely rescue teams can be during a disaster.

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