Teenager Survives After 17 Hours Trapped Under Earthquake Rubble

LA GUAIRA: A teenager who survived after being trapped for 17 hours under building rubble caused by a devastating earthquake in Venezuela has admitted that she is still haunted by the loss of four close friends in the tragedy that claimed more than 4,000 lives recently.

Maria Alejandra Sanz, 17, said the memories of her friends who died while preparing for a school graduation performance still linger.

“If I had to die, let it be while I was sleeping,” she told Reuters.

That was one of the thoughts that ran through Maria’s mind while she was trapped in a pile of concrete after the building in the coastal town of La Guaira collapsed following two powerful earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela on June 24.

Maria said she relied solely on her will to survive and had to drink her own urine to avoid dehydration while trapped under the rubble.

“I saw a little light through the gaps between my fingers and knew I was not buried too deep.

“I prayed to be given a chance to live,” she said.

According to Reuters, minutes before the earthquake struck, her close friend, Gonzalo Marquez, asked for drinking water.

Maria then went up to the third floor of her apartment to get water before the building began to shake and collapse.

Unknown to her, her friend’s request became the moment that saved her life, as she was no longer in the dance rehearsal space with nine other friends when the building collapsed.

Of the 10 members of the dance group who were rehearsing for the graduation performance, four were confirmed dead, including Gonzalo.

Another friend, Isa Campos, was initially alive and was detected by volunteers under the rubble.

However, the girl died after the necessary rescue equipment failed to arrive on time, said her father, Jeffry Campos.

Maria said she still wonders whether her friends could have been saved if help had arrived earlier.

“Why am I still alive while they are gone?

“We talked about university, the future and wanting to build our country. Now all that is just a dream,” she said.

The twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 magnitudes, have so far claimed more than 4,000 lives and injured nearly 17,000 victims, as well as destroying thousands of homes and buildings in several areas of Venezuela.

Maria, who aspires to become an architect, said she will continue to pursue her dream in honour of her friends who did not get to enjoy their future.

“They will remain forever young in my memory,” she said.

REUTERS