TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – Recovery continues in Venezuela as rescue teams pull survivors from the rubble after two massive earthquakes hit the country last week. <\/p>\n
Harrowing video is coming from the teams on the ground, including of the rescue of a 3-year-old boy. <\/p>\n
But even with over 5,000 people saved, the government now puts the death toll at over 2,000. <\/p>\n
Those headlines are both hopeful and troubling for Bryan Chavez. The Tallahassee man is from coastal Venezuela, right near where one of those massive quakes struck.<\/p>\n
He says his family is all alive, but not without some bruises and scrapes. He says his aunt and uncle lost their home, and now they\u2019re living with his mother. <\/p>\n
But right after the quake, he went more than 12 hours not knowing if they were okay. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe most important part for me is, they were okay. You know, I had some other family members that like love their house. And so obviously none of the information come until later. Cause I think the most important part for me is like they were alive,\u201d Chavez said. <\/p>\n
His partner, Jordan Donahue, says Chavez is normally the calm one, but those hours not knowing took a toll. <\/p>\n
\u201cI woke up in the middle of the night that night and he wasn\u2019t next to me and I, you know, I called down to him and he was just up by his phone, trying different ways to get in contact with them,\u201d Donahue said. <\/p>\n
Donahue now says many in that area are sleeping in tents and struggling to get the basics.<\/p>\n
She started a GoFundMe that has already raised thousands of dollars<\/a> to help Bryan\u2019s family and neighbors.<\/p>\n To keep up with the latest news as it develops, follow WCTV on Facebook<\/a>, Instagram<\/a>, YouTube<\/a>, Nextdoor<\/a> <\/a>and X<\/a> (Twitter<\/a>).<\/p>\n Have a news tip or see an error? Write to us here<\/a>. Please include the article\u2019s headline in your message.<\/p>\n Be the first to see all the biggest headlines by downloading the WCTV News app. Click here<\/a> to get started.<\/p>\n Copyright 2026 WCTV. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n