Spain's Unidad Militar de Emergencias (UME) rescued a second person trapped under rubble in Maiquetía, Venezuela, on Sunday [1].

These successful extractions provide a rare glimmer of hope amid a catastrophe that has devastated the state of La Guaira. The rescue operations highlight the critical role of international specialized units in stabilizing collapsed structures to find survivors in high-density residential areas [2].

The rescue occurred in a residential area of Maiquetía [3]. This follows the rescue of a first survivor who was found alive after spending 72 hours [4] beneath the debris. The second survivor was recovered several hours [5] after the first discovery. During the extraction, a Spanish UME rescuer said, "Antonio, bienvenido" [6].

The emergency response follows two massive earthquakes that struck on Wednesday, June 26, 2026 [2]. The twin seismic events registered magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5 [2]. The intensity of the quakes caused widespread building collapses across the region, leaving thousands without shelter and burying residents under concrete and steel [2].

According to official reports, the total death toll from the twin earthquakes has reached 1,430 [2]. The UME continues to conduct rescue and stabilization operations in the affected zones to ensure no other victims remain trapped [2]. The team is working alongside local authorities to navigate the unstable terrain of La Guaira, where the risk of aftershocks remains a concern [3].

Spanish military personnel have deployed advanced equipment to penetrate the rubble without triggering further collapses. The recovery of Antonio and the previous survivor demonstrates the effectiveness of these technical search-and-rescue protocols in the challenging environment of Maiquetía [1], [3].

“Antonio, bienvenido”

The deployment of Spain's UME in Venezuela underscores the necessity of international cooperation during large-scale natural disasters. With a death toll exceeding 1,400 and the occurrence of two high-magnitude earthquakes in short succession, the local infrastructure in La Guaira was likely overwhelmed. The successful rescue of survivors days after the initial event suggests that specialized stabilization techniques can extend the window of survival, though the high casualty count indicates a severe failure of building resilience in the region.