[Anchor]

In Venezuela, where a national period of mourning has been declared for earthquake victims, the dramatic rescue of a survivor has captured global attention. Rescue teams from seven countries have joined forces to save the survivor, who has held on for eight days beneath the rubble of a collapsed building.

Reporter Kim Young-a has the story.

[Reporter]

La Guaira, Venezuela, has been reduced to ruins by a series of powerful earthquakes.

Red Cross rescue workers from Costa Rica are moving urgently to rescue Hernan, who has been holding on for eight days in the basement of a collapsed shopping mall.

The rescue team first discovered Hernan at 67 hours into the disaster, on the afternoon of the 27th, local time.

[Listen!]

[Wagner Riba / Costa Rica Red Cross Emergency Rescue Team Leader: One of our team members shouted to check for survivors, and we actually heard a response.]

Hernan, a security guard at the shopping mall, was trapped in the second basement level when the building collapsed in an instant.

He was in a dire situation, buried under layers of debris from a seven-story building.

Upon hearing the news, hundreds of rescue workers from seven countries—Venezuela, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Chile, Portugal, Mexico, and the United States—gathered at the site.

[Are you okay?]

After three days of around-the-clock operations, the rescue team finally succeeded in visually confirming Hernan's condition around 8:00 p.m. on the 29th, local time.

[Hernan, please move your hand!]

Two hours later, at 10:00 p.m., the first supply of drinking water was delivered to him.

[We are giving you water, stay strong.]

A day later, the rescue team was able to capture footage of Hernan.

[Hernan! Please look at the camera.]

Despite being crushed by the debris of a seven-story building, Hernan is miraculously without major injuries.

The rescue team is continuing their desperate struggle with the goal of extracting him as quickly as possible.

The death toll from the Venezuelan earthquake has increased by 352 in a single day, nearing 2,300.

Interim President Rodriguez has declared a seven-day period of national mourning, stating that Venezuela is experiencing pain as if its soul is being torn apart.

(Video Editing: Lee Seung-yeol)