safety
Miami Fire Rescue team members help rescue Venezuela earthquake victim trapped under rubble for 8 days
By Steven Yablonski at CBS4 Miami
· July 2, 2026
· 2 min read
An urban search and rescue team from South Florida assisted with the miraculous rescue of a man who had been trapped for eight days under the rubble of a collapsed building after catastrophic and deadly earthquakes in Venezuela.The USAR Florida Task Force 2 (FL-TF2) team, which is comprised of fire
Key takeaway Hernan Gil, a survivor of Venezuela's twin earthquakes, is assisted by members of international rescue teams before being rushed into an ambulance in Catia La Mar, La Guaira State, Venezuela on July 2, 2026, eight days after the quake.
Why this matters in The Miami
The successful rescue of Hernán Alberto Flores Gil is a testament to the expertise and dedication of Miami 's first responders, particularly the USAR Florida Task Force 2 team. As a city prone to hurricanes and flooding, Miami has had to develop a high level of emergency response capabilities, which have now been leveraged to help those in need abroad. The fact that the FL-TF2 team was able to deploy 80 personnel from across South Florida to assist in the rescue efforts in Venezuela demonstrates the strength of the region's disaster response infrastructure. This rescue also highlights the importance of international cooperation in emergency response situations, and Miami's role as a hub for Latin American and Caribbean communities has likely facilitated the city's involvement in this effort. As Miami continues to face its own unique set of disaster risks, the success of the FL-TF2 team in Venezuela serves as a powerful example of the city's capacity for resilience and response.
About this story
Original reporting by CBS4 Miami . The Miami surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit CBS4 Miami . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: safety ·
Published: July 2, 2026 ·
Source: CBS4 Miami ·
Reading time: 2 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? An urban search and rescue team from South Florida assisted with the miraculous rescue of a man who had been trapped for eight days under the rubble of a collapsed building after catastrophic and deadly earthquakes in Venezuela.The USAR Florida Task Force 2 (FL-TF2) team, which is comprised of fire
When was this published? This article was first published on July 2, 2026 by CBS4 Miami and curated for The Miami readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Steven Yablonski at CBS4 Miami. To learn more about how The Miami selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more safety coverage from The Miami, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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