Aunt Reunited with Trapped Boy, Hopes for Parents Still Missing
When a boy named Kleiber was saved from under the debris of his Venezuelan home after six days, the relief was immediate and emotional. Rescuers from Jordan, after earlier attempts by UK teams, carried the child to a Caracas clinic where the boy’s 23‑year‑old aunt, Andreína Sarmiento, met him.
Andreína said she would look after Kleiber with the warmth of a mother until his sister and brother‑in‑law could be found. She swore to remain strong, saying, “I pray for strength because he is only two years old and I am not a mother.” Her words filled the narrow hospital room where Kleiber’s small hand was held and a small Spiderman blanket wrapped around his tiny body.
The boy had no fractures, only a few scratches, but he manifested a shock of relief: “She Auntie,” he greeted his aunt in a clear, startled voice. He slept through the night and surprised family members by speaking to them and showing interest in surroundings.
Venezuela’s interim President Delcy Rodríguez hailed the rescue as a “source of hope for our people,” at a time when official death counts reach 2,295 and many thousands are still missing. The United Nations is preparing thousands of body bags for the region.
Andreína expressed unshaken hope that kleiber’s parents, who are still missing, will be found; she was certain his mother would have been beside him in the rubble. She said the story of Kleiber’s survival is one he will look back on when he grows up, believing he has a purpose in the world.
