The survivor, identified as Hernán Gil, was rescued after emergency personnel detected signs of life beneath nearly 140 tonnes of concrete and debris. Officials described the operation as one of the most technically challenging rescue missions carried out since the earthquakes devastated parts of the country. According to rescue workers, Gil had remained trapped inside the ruins for more than a week before his faint cries for help were heard during a search operation on Sunday. Allan Madrigal, a paramedic with the Costa Rican Red Cross, said he initially believed he had imagined the sound and asked a fellow rescuer to confirm it before teams launched an intensive effort to reach the trapped man.

Gil, who worked as a security guard, was on duty inside a small reinforced concrete security booth in the basement parking area near the Galerias Playa Grande shopping mall in Catia La Mar when the earthquakes struck. Rescue officials believe the concrete structure shielded him from the collapsing debris and played a crucial role in his survival. Medical teams supplied Gil with water and intravenous fluids while rescue personnel carefully removed debris to prevent further collapse. Emergency responders from Venezuela were joined by specialists from Chile, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Mexico, Portugal and the United States during the complex rescue operation.

Rescuers established visual contact with Gil after inserting a small camera through a narrow opening in the rubble. They later provided him with a protective face mask and safety goggles to minimise dust exposure while excavation work continued. Marco Antonio Franco of the Mexican Red Cross said Gil remained calm throughout the rescue effort and regularly communicated with emergency personnel. According to rescuers, he even requested specific flavours of hydration drinks while waiting to be freed.

A Chilean firefighter involved in the mission described the operation as the most technically demanding rescue he had ever participated in, citing the unstable debris and confined working conditions. Meanwhile, authorities said the death toll from the twin earthquakes has climbed to nearly 2,300. Thousands of people are still reported missing, while rescue and recovery teams continue searching damaged buildings in the hope of finding more survivors. Emergency response agencies remain deployed across the affected regions as humanitarian assistance and relief operations continue. Officials have said search efforts will continue despite increasingly difficult conditions at several collapsed structures.

Short circuit triggers fire at Rewa’s National Hospital; patients evacuated

Short circuit blamed for blaze; no serious injuries reported as staff and local firefighters doused flames and evacuated patients.

A short circuit in a wing of Rewa’s National Hospital on Tuesday afternoon sparked a fire that sent patients, attendants and staff rushing out of the building, hospital officials and local authorities said.

What happened
According to hospital sources and initial on-site accounts, the blaze began in a corridor near the outpatient block at around 2:10 pm. Smoke and flames spread quickly, prompting alarm among those inside. “There was thick smoke and people started coming out of the wards,” a staff nurse who asked not to be named told reporters at the scene.

Immediate response
Hospital staff activated the in-house fire response and used portable extinguishers while calling the Rewa fire station, officials said. Local firefighters arrived within about 15–20 minutes and helped bring the situation under control. Management said the hospital’s automatic alarm and emergency-lighting system alerted staff promptly.

Evacuation and casualties
Patients, their relatives and non-critical cases were evacuated to an open area beside the hospital; critical patients were shifted to other wards inside under supervision. Initial reports indicate there were no deaths and no serious injuries. A few people complained of mild breathing difficulty from smoke inhalation and were treated at the hospital’s emergency department and released, officials said.

Cause being probed
Early assessments by the hospital’s maintenance team point to an electrical short circuit in a junction near the corridor as the likely cause. “Preliminary indication is a short circuit,” a hospital manager said. “We have handed over the matter to the electrical department and local authorities for a thorough probe.” The municipal electrical inspector and the fire department will examine wiring and safety compliance, the manager added.

Ground-level reactions
Residents and shopkeepers in the surrounding Saman police station area gathered outside as firefighters battled the flames, creating brief congestion on the adjoining road. “We saw smoke and everyone rushed out. It was scary for a while,” said a relative of a patient who was present. Traffic police diverted vehicles away from the hospital to allow emergency services unimpeded access.

Damage and impact
Though authorities said the fire was limited to a section of the building, it caused damage to electrical fittings, ceiling panels and some furniture. Hospital officials have not provided a final estimate of financial loss. Several outpatient appointments scheduled for the late afternoon were postponed and will be rescheduled, management confirmed.

Safety measures and next steps
Hospital management issued a statement saying it will review and strengthen safety protocols to prevent recurrence. “We will conduct a full audit of electrical systems and emergency procedures,” the statement read. The Rewa municipal corporation and district administration have been informed and will monitor follow-up actions, a municipal official said.

Context and background
Fires triggered by electrical faults in crowded indoor settings have been a recurring safety concern across India, prompting periodic government advisories on electrical maintenance and fire drills in public institutions. Local fire officials said the National Hospital’s quick internal response likely prevented a larger disaster.

Forward look
The fire department has registered an incident report and will file a technical cause report after inspecting the site. Hospital authorities have asked staff to remain on heightened alert and said they will update patients and the public once the investigation concludes. In the meantime, routine services are expected to resume after safety checks and minor repairs.

5.2-magnitude quake jolts Guangxi, two dead and thousands evacuated

Earthquake in Liuzhou damages buildings, prompts mass evacuations and ongoing rescue operations

A 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region early Monday, killing two people, collapsing several buildings and forcing more than 7,000 residents in Liuzhou to evacuate, authorities said. Rescue teams continued searches in the hours after the tremor while officials inspected transport links and infrastructure for damage.

Immediate impact
According to provincial emergency management officials, the quake hit in the pre-dawn hours near Liuzhou city. Initial reports said 13 buildings collapsed and one person remained missing; four others were hospitalised with non-life-threatening injuries. Local news outlets said the two fatalities were confirmed late morning after search teams recovered victims from damaged structures.

Evacuations and shelter
More than 7,000 people were evacuated from the most affected neighbourhoods of Liuzhou, the city government said. Municipal authorities set up temporary shelters in community centres and schools, providing basic supplies and medical attention. Social media posts from residents in the area described panicked evacuations in the early hours, with families leaving homes barefoot and children clutching belongings.

Timeline and ground cues
Residents reported feeling strong shaking for several seconds around 3:30am local time, followed by aftershocks that kept people outdoors for hours. “My apartment shook so hard the lights went out,” a local resident told state media. Emergency services said aftershock activity continued through the morning, complicating rescue work and inspections of unstable buildings.

Infrastructure checks
Railway and transport officials dispatched inspection teams to check tracks and bridges on key routes serving Liuzhou. Authorities warned of possible delays as lines were examined, though state reporting added that power, water, gas and major road links were functioning normally in most parts of the city. Telecommunications providers reported largely intact mobile and landline services, helping coordinate relief.

Rescue operations
Search-and-rescue teams from Liuzhou and neighbouring prefectures were mobilised, with heavy machinery brought in to clear rubble where collapses occurred. Local hospitals activated emergency protocols to treat those injured, while volunteer groups delivered blankets and food to shelters. Officials cautioned residents to avoid damaged areas to let responders work and to follow directives from emergency personnel.

Official response and statements
Provincial authorities convened an emergency meeting early on Monday to coordinate relief and damage assessment. “Rescue operations are ongoing,” a provincial emergency management spokesperson said in a brief statement carried by state media. No detailed cause was provided beyond standard geological explanations; seismological agencies said the quake was likely the result of shallow crustal fault movement common to the region.

Background on seismic risk
Guangxi is not among China’s most seismically active provinces, but earthquakes do occur periodically in southern China due to complex interactions between tectonic blocks. Seismologists say shallow, moderate-magnitude quakes can still cause substantial local damage if they strike populated areas with vulnerable buildings. The China Earthquake Networks Center usually issues rapid assessments after such events to guide relief.

Public safety and precautions
Local authorities urged residents to stay calm, avoid entering structurally compromised buildings and follow official evacuation routes. Hospitals posted advisories for non-critical patients to defer visits where possible to keep capacity for trauma care. Schools in the worst-hit districts were closed for inspections, with decisions on reopening to be made after structural checks.

What happens next
Teams are conducting a fuller damage assessment and compiling lists of displaced residents needing longer-term shelter. Railway inspections will determine whether any services must be suspended or speed-restricted for safety. Seismologists will monitor aftershocks and release updates as data comes in.

The quake’s human toll and disruption underline the challenges cities face when moderate seismic events strike built-up areas. For now, relief and search operations remain the priority as authorities work to account for the missing and stabilise damaged sites.

A major Indore factory fire broke out on Saturday morning at a plastic granule manufacturing unit located on Dhar Road, triggering panic in the surrounding area. The fire erupted at DU Drop Irrigation factory around 7 am and rapidly spread across the premises due to highly combustible plastic material stored inside. Huge clouds of thick black smoke and flames were visible from several kilometres away, drawing attention from nearby residents and commuters.

Firefighters Rush to Spot

Soon after receiving information, fire brigade teams rushed to the location and launched an extensive firefighting operation. According to officials, seven fire tenders were deployed to control the blaze. Firefighters continued efforts for more than four hours, but the flames had not been fully controlled till the latest reports.

Fire Spreads Rapidly

Officials said the fire intensified quickly after spreading through stored plastic granules and other materials inside the factory premises. The intense heat and heavy smoke made it difficult for firefighters to enter the building safely. Tin sheds installed inside the factory also collapsed partially, creating additional challenges during the rescue and firefighting operation.

Area Cleared for Safety

As a precautionary measure, police and district administration evacuated nearby areas to avoid any casualties or injuries. Authorities restricted public movement around the factory zone and deployed police personnel to manage the crowd. Residents living close to the industrial unit were advised to stay away due to the thick smoke and possible risk of further spread.

Heavy Smoke Covers Area

The Indore factory fire produced dense black smoke that spread across the surrounding locality and nearby industrial areas. Locals reported that the smoke plume could be seen from long distances across parts of the city. People gathered near the site as videos and visuals of the fire circulated rapidly on social media platforms.

Robot and Machines Deployed

To intensify firefighting efforts, officials brought in a fire-fighting robot and a Poklen machine at the scene. The robot was deployed to spray water in areas difficult for firefighters to access directly. Heavy machinery was also used to remove damaged tin sheets and debris so that water could reach the core areas affected by the fire.

Water Supply Challenges

RRCAT Deputy Fire Officer Ajay Kumar said firefighters faced difficulties due to inadequate water sources near the factory area. He stated that additional water tankers were arranged continuously to refill the fire tenders. According to officials, nearly 35 tankers of water had already been used during the operation by the time the report was filed.

Municipal Commissioner Visits Site

Indore Municipal Commissioner Kshitij Singhal also reached the accident site to review the ongoing operation and coordinate emergency response efforts with fire officials and police teams. Senior administrative officials remained present throughout the operation to monitor the situation closely.

No Casualties Reported

Authorities confirmed that no casualties or injuries had been reported so far in the incident. Factory owner Mohammad Javed Qureshi said labourers were not present at the time of the fire because work remained suspended due to Amavasya. He stated that around 30 to 35 workers are usually employed at the factory across day and night shifts.

Fear of Fire Spread

The factory owner expressed concern that nearby industrial units could also come under threat if the blaze spread further. A herbal products manufacturing unit located close to the affected factory was also being monitored carefully. Police and fire personnel remained alert to prevent the fire from reaching nearby structures.

Short Circuit Suspected

According to the factory owner, the fire may have started after a short circuit in the electrical distribution panel installed within the premises. Officials believe the flames spread rapidly because large quantities of plastic granules were stored inside the unit, providing continuous fuel for the blaze.

Villagers Join Efforts

Local villagers also assisted authorities during the emergency response. Shri Ram Taravali village sarpanch Jitendra Chaudhary said villagers supplied water from tube wells to support the firefighting operation. He stated that residents began helping immediately after learning about the fire incident in the morning.

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