Oriana Ustariz graduated with a degree in physiotherapy just days before the back-to-back earthquakes devastated the country
Credit: Jam Press
NEED TO KNOW
- A recent graduate was found dead in Caracas, Venezuela, after back-to-back earthquakes hit the country
- Oriana Ustariz and her dog Kai were found together in the rubble of a collapsed building
- The 25-year-old had graduated with a degree in physiotherapy just days before the earthquakes hit
A recent college graduate and her pet were among those killed in the rare double earthquakes that struck Venezuela last week. She had just received her diploma days earlier.
The body of Oriana Ustariz, a model and brand promoter, was found in the rubble of the Moisés building, located in the San Bernardino district of Caracas, on the evening of Tuesday, June 30, per Jam Press. The discovery of her body came less than a week after two back-to-back earthquakes hit the country.
After extensive search efforts in the area, the 25-year-old was the final person still unaccounted for from the building, according to local reports, per Jam Press.
Ustariz was last heard from when she went on a walk with her pet dog, a small pup named Kai, Jam Press reported, citing local reports.
Credit: Jam Press
Ustariz's mother was unable to get a hold of her, and her body was eventually found beneath the rubble of the collapsed building, still embracing her beloved pet.
Just days before the devastating earthquakes on Thursday, June 18, Ustariz graduated with a degree in physiotherapy, also known as physical therapy, according to Jam Press.
She shared photos from the graduation ceremony on social media. “Achievements mean more when you're surrounded by the people you love most,” Ustariz wrote in the caption, translated to English.
Other posts on Ustariz's social media offer insight into who the new graduate was. She had previously described herself as “a lover of the beach and an ice-cold beer,” and elsewhere on social media, she wrote, “Fight for your dreams — nothing falls from the sky.”
Ustariz also shared photos of herself with her beloved Kai.
Credit: Jam Press
Per Jam Press, Ustariz's body was transported to a forensic medicine institute, where it will undergo post-mortem examinations.
Venezuela was hit by a 7.2-magnitude earthquake on Wednesday, June 24. It was followed shortly after by a 7.5-magnitude earthquake in a “severe seismic doublet sequence,” per the U.S. Geological Survey.
The second earthquake is believed to be the largest earthquake in the South American country in over a century. The city of La Guaira was hit the hardest by the earthquakes, local officials reported.
As of Friday, July 3, at least 2,645 people have died, and another 12,000 have been injured, Reuters reported, citing the Venezuelan government.
Another 15,000 have been left homeless by the devastating natural disaster, per the outlet.
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