18-day-old baby rescued alive, reunited with father as Venezuela earthquake death toll climbs to 920

Amid the widespread devastation caused by the powerful earthquakes in northern Venezuela, a remarkable rescue has offered a rare moment of hope. An 18-day-old baby was pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed building and reunited with the child's emotional father. About 90 minutes later, rescuers also found the baby's mother alive, making the family's survival one of the most uplifting stories to emerge from the disaster.

Mother rescued 90 minutes after baby

The rescue operation did not end with the infant. Search teams continued combing through the debris and, around 90 minutes later, successfully rescued the baby's mother alive. Their survival has become one of the most inspiring moments since the earthquakes struck northern Venezuela.

The heartwarming rescue comes as the death toll from the twin earthquakes continues to rise.

According to National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, at least 920 people have died, while 2,980 others have been injured. Thousands remain unaccounted for, with a missing persons website listing nearly 50,000 people, though the figure has not been independently verified.

The earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, struck less than a minute apart on Wednesday evening, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS). The epicentre was near the coastal town of Moron, about 160 km west of Caracas.

The USGS described the event as a rare seismic "doublet", in which two major earthquakes occur within seconds in the same region. Early modelling by the agency estimates the final death toll could range between 10,000 and 100,000.

The coastal state of La Guaira, north of Caracas, remains the worst-hit region. Acting President Delcy Rodriguez has declared it a disaster zone, saying dozens of buildings have collapsed and critical infrastructure has suffered extensive damage.

Authorities said at least 346 buildings have been damaged or destroyed, including eight hospitals and the headquarters of the Venezuelan Red Cross. Simon Bolivar International Airport has also been closed due to structural damage.

International rescue teams from the United States, Mexico, Spain and El Salvador have joined relief efforts. The US Treasury Department has temporarily eased sanctions to facilitate humanitarian aid, while Acting President Rodriguez thanked the international community for its support.

Authorities have warned that the death toll is likely to rise further as rescue teams continue searching through the rubble.