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The aunt of the rescued child, 23-year-old Andreína Sarmiento, described her emotional reunion with Kleiber after learning of his survival from a friend in La Guaira. Speaking to the BBC, she said she would take care of him with a mother’s warmth until her sister Ana Luz is located. Sarmiento recounted falling to the floor in shock and tears upon hearing the news before rushing to the hospital in Caracas where the boy was taken. She expressed both joy at his survival and pain over her missing sister, with whom she had daily video calls.
In the hospital, Kleiber immediately recognized his aunt, saying “she Auntie,” and has since stabilized after initial screaming upon arrival. The child sustained only scratches on his arms and legs with no fractures, according to medical staff. He spent the night sleeping soundly and by the next day was playing with toys including a small car while wrapped in a Spiderman blanket. Sarmiento noted he gives her kisses and indicates where it hurts, showing signs of recovery.
According to the BBC report, Sarmiento is praying for strength as she is not a mother herself but feels her sister entrusted the boy to her. She remains hopeful that her sister and brother-in-law will also be found alive, just as Kleiber was pulled from the debris. The family was close, with the mother always keeping Kleiber by her side and seeking help from her sister for his needs.
Rescue operations continue in the aftermath of the earthquakes that struck on June 24 2026, with magnitudes of 7.2 and 7.5, a UN assessment found. Jordanian and UK teams participated in the search that freed the boy, with the Jordanian civil defence confirming he received first aid and had good vital signs. The interim president Delcy Rodríguez called the rescue a source of hope for the nation, Venezuelan state media reported.
ABC News data places the death toll at least 1,943 with more than 10,000 injured and tens of thousands unaccounted for from the disasters in northern Venezuela. The United Nations is procuring 10,000 body bags as the final toll is expected to rise significantly higher, according to a UN statement. CNN reported on June 29 that the toll had passed 1,700 as miraculous rescues continued to offer some optimism amid the tragedy.
International response has included aid from multiple countries, with the US State Department announcing support following the June 24 quakes off the coast west of Caracas. Grief and frustration have grown in La Guaira as families wait for news, local reports from the area indicated. Officials continue to coordinate with global teams to locate more survivors among the rubble.
