‘Everything collapsed in five seconds’ – Venezuela earthquake survivor recalls her ordeal
The death toll from the twin earthquakes has climbed to 1,430, while at least 68,900 people remain unaccounted for
As rescuers search for survivors in the aftermath of Venezuela’s twin earthquakes, a young girl who spent two days trapped beneath the rubble of her collapsed five-story apartment building has recounted her ordeal to RT.
The powerful earthquakes that hit the Bolivarian republic earlier this week killed at least 1,430 people, while at least 68,900 others remain unaccounted for, according to the local authorities. Rescue operations continue but hopes of finding survivors are fading.
Andrea Valentina Canonico, who survived the disaster in La Guaira, the hardest-hit state, recalled that the collapse happened almost instantly.
“Everything collapsed in five seconds, I think, no more,” she said. “I remember opening my eyes… and then I found myself among the debris with an injured leg because part of a column or wall had fallen on it. There was smoke everywhere.”
The girl said her mobile phone was her only way of tracking time while trapped beneath the rubble. After its battery died, she was left in complete darkness.
READ MORE: More earthquakes rock Venezuela as death toll rises to 1,430
“I believed that I would get out in an hour, two hours, a few days, but I would get out,” she said. “I asked for a second chance at life and promised I would make the most of it.”
Valentina spoke to RT correspondent Andres Fernandez Sanchez about her experience.
What stands out is the powerful earthquakes that hit the Bolivarian republic earlier this week killed at least 1,430 people, while at least 68,900 others remain unaccounted for, according to the local authorities. That is the part worth paying attention to.
Basically “Everything collapsed in five seconds, I think, no more,” she said. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
Basically the powerful earthquakes that hit the Bolivarian republic earlier this week killed at least 1,430 people, while at least 68,900 others remain unaccounted for, according to the local authorities. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
The fact that andrea Valentina Canonico, who survived the disaster in La Guaira, the hardest-hit state, recalled that the collapse happened almost instantly really puts things into perspective.
On one hand the powerful earthquakes that hit the Bolivarian republic earlier this week killed at least 1,430 people, while at least 68,900 others remain unaccounted for, according to the local authorities. But at the same time andrea Valentina Canonico, who survived the disaster in La Guaira, the hardest-hit state, recalled that the collapse happened almost instantly.
The girl said her mobile phone was her only way of tracking time while trapped beneath the rubble. Meanwhile the death toll from the twin earthquakes has climbed to 1,430, while at least 68,900 people remain unaccounted.
So the bottom line is the death toll from the twin earthquakes has climbed to 1,430, while at least 68,900 people remain unaccounted. Wonder how this will land.
The detail about the powerful earthquakes that hit the Bolivarian republic earlier this week killed at least 1,430 people, while at least 68,900 others remain unaccounted for, according to the local authorities is something people should sit with.
The detail about “Everything collapsed in five seconds, I think, no more,” she said is something people should sit with.
Think about it: “Everything collapsed in five seconds, I think, no more,” she said. That speaks volumes.
The bigger issue here is “Everything collapsed in five seconds, I think, no more,” she said. That changes the calculation.
Andrea Valentina is in a tough spot here, curious how they navigate it.
On one hand “Everything collapsed in five seconds, I think, no more,” she said. But at the same time the girl said her mobile phone was her only way of tracking time while trapped beneath the rubble.
Basically the death toll from the twin earthquakes has climbed to 1,430, while at least 68,900 people remain unaccounted. What matters is whether anything changes because of it.
1,430 people — and that is probably just the official count.