How Venezuela’s earthquake amputees adapt to life without limbs
News Source
•Mon, 26 Oct 2026 17:55:59 +0000
📰 What Happened
More than four months after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, survivors who lost limbs are learning to live with artificial ones. Ricardo Contreras, 24, lost his left leg after it was trapped under a fallen door frame for hours. Both of his parents died in the collapse.
Ricardo and his 16-year-old brother Andres survived and are still doing physiotherapy. At a clinic in Caracas he is training to use a new prosthetic leg. He says what he wants most is the independence the earthquake took from him.
🔍 The Backstory
The two earthquakes hit on the night of June 24, 2026, bringing down buildings and trapping people under rubble for hours. Rescue teams worked for days to pull survivors out.
Venezuela's health system has struggled for years with shortages of medicine, parts and trained staff. A prosthetic leg is costly and slow to make, and aid groups say resources have grown scarcer as the months pass.
🎯 Why It Matters
Recovery from a big earthquake can last a lifetime, and the cost of a prosthetic limb can decide whether someone walks again.
More than four months after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela on June 24, survivors who lost limbs are learning to live with artificial ones. Ricardo Contreras, 24, lost his left leg after it was trapped under a fallen door frame for hours. Both of his parents died in the collapse.
Ricardo and his 16-year-old brother Andres survived and are still doing physiotherapy. At a clinic in Caracas he is training to use a new prosthetic leg. He says what he wants most is the independence the earthquake took from him.
The two earthquakes hit on the night of June 24, 2026, bringing down buildings and trapping people under rubble for hours. Rescue teams worked for days to pull survivors out.
Venezuela's health system has struggled for years with shortages of medicine, parts and trained staff. A prosthetic leg is costly and slow to make, and aid groups say resources have grown scarcer as the months pass.
Recovery from a big earthquake can last a lifetime, and the cost of a prosthetic limb can decide whether someone walks again.