Rescue crews searching through the rubble of a collapsed building in Caracas found an unexpected survivor after powerful earthquakes rocked Venezuela.
A frightened puppy was discovered alive beneath the debris after back-to-back quakes struck the country on June 24, leaving buildings destroyed and rescuers racing to find anyone still trapped.
Video obtained by Storyful shows firefighters gently pulling the exhausted dog from the rubble before giving it water moments after it was brought to safety.
The emotional footage was captured by journalist Roman Camacho, who said the puppy had been trapped beneath a collapsed building before members of the Caracas Fire Department reached it.
“Here are the rescue teams that have just pulled a small dog out from the rubble where it was trapped,” Camacho says in the video. “Capital District firefighters — always the heroes in stories like this — are working tirelessly to extract survivors from the debris.”
Camacho said the puppy had been found among the wreckage after rescuers heard it crying.
“The small dog was found amidst the rubble, yelping,” he said. “It is currently being treated.”
According to Storyful, the puppy was later taken into the care of the Caracas Fire Department.
The rescue happened in the Pinto Salinas neighborhood of Caracas, where crews continued searching the collapsed structure even after the dog was pulled out alive.
The heartwarming moment came amid a devastating disaster.
Officials say the earthquakes have killed at least 164 people and injured more than 971 others. The powerful quakes reportedly struck less than a minute apart, causing widespread destruction across parts of Venezuela.
Rescue efforts are still underway as authorities continue assessing the damage and searching for more survivors.