‘My Heart Goes Out…’: Brazil Star Neymar Donates $250,000 for Venezuela Earthquake Victims

Brazilian football star Neymar has reportedly donated $250,000 to support emergency rescue and humanitarian relief efforts in Venezuela, according to Venezuelan news outlet El Sumario.com.

The report said the funds will be used to provide immediate assistance to people affected by the emergency, including the supply of food, drinking water, medical supplies and temporary shelters.

"My heart goes out to the people of Venezuela," Neymar said as quoted by El Sumario.com, while expressing his hope that this contribution would bring strength and relief to the affected families.

Twin earthquakes measuring 7.5 and 7.2 struck northern Venezuela on Wednesday, triggering widespread devastation, large-scale displacement, and a mounting humanitarian crisis.

Amid the destruction, a rescue team pulled a dog alive from beneath the rubble of a collapsed house, in a moment that has since gone viral on social media.

How did firefighters rescue a dog alive amid the Venezuela earthquake devastation?

Firefighters had completed operations at the site and were preparing to leave when they heard faint barking from under the debris. Acting swiftly, they returned and began a careful, manual operation to avoid injuring the trapped animal.

Rescuers removed heavy concrete slabs and twisted metal piece by piece. In a widely shared video, firefighters are seen lowering a bottle of water through a narrow opening to hydrate the frightened dog before eventually bringing it to safety.

The disaster has claimed at least 1,430 lives, according to Venezuela’s National Assembly President Jorge Rodriguez, as cited by CNN. A further 3,238 people have been injured, while 3,142 families have been displaced after losing their homes.

Search-and-rescue operations remain underway, though efforts are being hampered by persistent aftershocks and a shortage of heavy equipment, narrowing the critical window to find survivors.

Meanwhile, Brazil head coach Carlo Ancelotti has provided an encouraging update on Neymar’s recovery, stating that the forward is now capable of playing longer stretches. Brazil are preparing for their FIFA Club World Cup Round of 32 clash against Japan.

Neymar shares a notable history against the Blue Samurai. On October 14, 2014, he scored all four goals in a rout of Japan, becoming only the eighth Brazilian to net four times in an international match.

With nine goals against Japan, he remains Brazil’s leading scorer in fixtures between the two sides.

(With inputs from ANI)