Ecuador earthquake survivor rescued from rubble two weeks after disaster

72-year-old Manuel Vasquez taken to hospital suffering from dehydration and kidney failure

A visiting Venezuelan task force rescued the man after 13 days under the rubble (Embassy of Venezuela in Ecuador)

A 72-year-old man has been rescued after being trapped under rubble for almost two weeks following a devastating earthquake that hit Ecuador.

A Venezuelan task force rescued Mr Manuel Vasquez from under the wreckage on after hearing noises coming from a partially collapsed building, according to the Venezuelan embassy.

Mr Vasquez had been trapped for 13 days, following the 7.8-magnitude earthquake said to be the worst in Ecuador’s history.

Dehydrated and disorientated, Mr Vasquez was taken to a hospital in Jaramijó. He had also lost several toes, and was suffering from kidney failure and urinary tract obstruction.

At least 650 deaths have been reported following the earthquake, which hit Ecuador’s coast on April 16, causing widespread damage across several towns.

A second earthquake hit Ecuador one week later, causing further devastation.

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa urged the country to “have strength” during the difficult time.

The president also announced value added tax would rise from 12 per cent to 14 per cent in the coming year to help pay for the damage, and that millionaires in the country would be hit with an additional one-off tax amounting to 0.9 per cent of their wealth.