Girl trapped in Venezuela quake 'survived on ketchup and cheese'

Sun Sep 06 2026 08:40:57 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

After 30‑hour rescue, 12‑year‑old Fabiana survived a twin‑earthquake in Venezuela, relying on ketchup and cheese for food.

In northern Venezuela’s La Guaira, twin earthquakes devastated the region and killed thousands. A 12‑year‑old girl named Fabiana was found exactly 30 hours after the shaking, buried under rubble yet alive. She survived on a mix of ketchup and cheese, her parents saying her appetite was the only thing that kept her going. Apart from a fractured foot and superficial cuts, she escaped with no other injuries, while the death toll surpassed 3,300 and many remain missing.

A pair of powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s northern coast, leaving more than 3,300 confirmed deaths and tens of thousands still missing. The tremors unfolded over two days in early July, tearing apart homes and infrastructure in La Guaira and adjacent municipalities.

BBC international correspondent Yogita Limaye met 12‑year‑old Fabiana on Friday morning, after she had been trapped beneath collapsed walls for 30 hours. According to her parents, Fabiana’s only sustenance during the ordeal were packets of ketchup and small blocks of cheese—food she carried with her on the train that took her to the city two weeks earlier.

Scans show she only suffered a fractured left foot and several bruises; otherwise she was fortunate to escape without serious injuries, a relief for her family who feared the worst. The story highlights how extreme resourcefulness and sheer willpower can make the difference in disaster survival.

For a deeper look into Fabiana’s incredible journey and the broader impact of the earthquakes, read more here.