CARACAS — Dayana Patino and her 18-day-old son, Juan David, were rescued from the rubble of their home in Venezuela on Thursday night. Their apartment in La Guaira was destroyed when twin earthquakes struck the country on Wednesday.

A 7.2-magnitude earthquake hit at 7:04 p.m. local time, followed by a 7.5-magnitude quake 39 seconds later. The earthquakes killed at least 1,450 people, according to one report. National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez stated more than 900 people were killed and over 3,000 were injured. The quakes knocked down buildings in Caracas and 15 other cities. Rodríguez stated that close to 3,000 people lost their homes and at least 1,400 buildings were damaged, including 13 hospitals and 25 commercial facilities.

Patino was in her eighth-floor apartment when the earthquakes began. "I felt like I was flying. After that, I felt like I was sinking in water and dirt, and then I fell into the pit where I remained. I don't know how I didn't let go of my baby because I was flying. I got crushed against furniture," Patino said. Her left leg was trapped under concrete, and her temple was pressed against a rock.

Patino discovered a Bible beneath her in the debris. She remained focused on her son's survival. "As long as he was alive, I was going to be alive. Every now and then I was touching his nose for proof that he was still breathing," Patino said. She strategically conserved her energy for calls for help, stating, "I said to myself I'm not going to waste my energy - I'm going to scream when it's needed, when I hear voices or steps nearby."

Patino's brother heard her screams, leading to her rescue. She sustained injuries to both legs, while Juan David had minor injuries. Her husband, Gerson, jumped over a fence to safety when the earthquakes started. He expressed relief upon seeing his family, stating, "It was indescribable. I thought they were dead. And when I saw my son I felt like I was born again. I couldn't believe it… I felt the life come back to me."

Patino and Gerson lost their home and nearly all their possessions in the earthquake. Gerson affirmed their resolve, saying, "We lost almost everything but here we are.… We will rebuild everything we lost."

Why It Matters

The twin earthquakes caused widespread devastation across Venezuela. Hundreds of people were killed and thousands injured, with nearly 3,000 individuals losing their homes. The rescue of individuals like Dayana Patino and her infant son shows the immediate human impact of the disaster, while the overall damage to infrastructure, including hospitals and commercial facilities, indicates a broader societal challenge for recovery and rebuilding efforts.