A widely shared video shows the emotional moment firefighters pulled a dog alive from the debris after two earthquakes struck Venezuela.
According to the Caracas Fire Department, a rescue crew had just finished searching a damaged home when members of the team heard barking.
Rather than leave the area, firefighters stayed at the scene, pinpointed where the animal was trapped and began working out how to free it safely.
The moving footage shows one firefighter passing a bottle of water to the stranded dog, which was stuck beneath a metal beam.
“Come on, buddy, we’re going to get you out,” one firefighter can be heard saying in the video, which was posted Thursday. “Come drink a little more. You don’t want any more?”
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The rescue team then used their hands to remove pieces of rubble before finally lifting the dog out of the wreckage.
“This extraordinary discovery has become a symbol of hope for everyone at the disaster site,” the Caracas Fire Department said in a statement shared on social media.
“Our emergency teams continue working tirelessly on search-and-rescue operations, reaffirming our full commitment to saving lives. We move forward with strength and solidarity!”
Onlookers applauded the first responders’ perseverance at a time when the fire department has been stretched thin as they work round-the-clock to search for survivors following Wednesday’s tremors.
“Every life is valuable, and the dedication of these rescuers is incredibly important,” one person commented.
