Rescatistas Extraen a Daniela Largo Viva Tras 35 Horas Bajo Ruinas de Hotel en Colombia

Colombia earthquake rescue operations continue with more than 224 dead The country's President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national emergency. LONDON -- Active rescue operations continued in western Colombia through into Wednesday morning following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that authorities in Bogota said killed more than 224 people. Some of the hardest-hit regions include the cities of Pereira in the Choco region and Cali in the Valle del Cauca area. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said in a social media post on Tuesday that the city -- which has a population of more than 2.2 million people -- recorded at least 95 people killed in the quake. On Tuesday afternoon, rescue efforts continued in the south of the city close to the Clinica Colombia health center -- a residential area of the city. Hundreds of rescue workers and volunteers were digging through the rubble of a collapsed department building where people were feared buried. Eder said in a post to social media on Tuesday night, "Every minute counts in this race to save lives. Today we rescued four people alive and continue working with all our capabilities to find more citizens." Among those involved in the rescue were soldiers of the Colombian army's Third Brigade. Troops deployed "a canine team, a thermal-capable drone and specialized equipment" in the Cali area, the unit said in a post to X. Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, meanwhile, released a video of ongoing rescue operations in the Choco region. "In a race against the clock, supported by canines, physical and technological search, these men and women are searching for people alive," the unit said in a post to X. The earthquake's epicenter was about 3 miles east of San José del Palmar, Colombia, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The country's President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national emergency and his government appealed for humanitarian aid. Celebrating the rescue of a woman trapped under rubble on Tuesday, De la Espriella said in a post to X, "We trust in God and in the tireless work of our rescue teams so that more Colombians may be found alive and can return to the arms of their families." The earthquake was the strongest recorded in the country in a decade, according to the Colombian Geological Survey. It was widely felt throughout Colombia and in neighboring countries, including Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama, it said. Authorities also reported power, cell phone and internet outages in the aftermath of the earthquake.

Search for survivors underway in Colombia’s earthquake aftermath Rescuers are searching through collapsed buildings in western Colombia for survivors after the country’s strongest earthquake this century killed at least 250 people and caused widespread devastation, according to local authorities. Emergency teams in the worst affected cities, including Cali and Pereira, have been working through the night and into Tuesday, listening for signs of life and trying to reach people trapped beneath concrete and debris during the magnitude 7.4 earthquake. The Choco region west of Cali and Pereira has also been impacted, but the extent of the damage is still not clear. Recommended Stories list of 3 items- list 1 of 3Family watches helplessly as Colombia quake destroys home - list 2 of 3Moment of terror as powerful earthquake shakes airport in Colombia - list 3 of 3Soldiers take cover as Colombia quake flattens military barracks Authorities have warned that the death toll from Monday’s quake could rise as search teams reach more affected areas in a big challenge for newly elected far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella. Here is what you need to know: What is the death toll and extent of the damage? Dozens of people were killed in Cali, located 280km (175 miles) southwest of the capital, Bogota. On Monday President De la Espriella said 35 people were killed in the city. Dozens of buildings were left leaning precariously or destroyed outright, forcing residents into the streets in the city of about 2.2 million people. Local authorities farther north in the Risaralda region, where Pereira is located, said the death toll included at least 40 people killed there. Authorities also confirmed nine people killed in the Choco region, two in the Caldas region and a 73-year-old in the Antioquia region. At least 87 people were initially reported injured, but de la Espriella later reported 700 injured in Valle del Cauca alone. More than 2,700 people had been reported missing on citizen-run websites by Monday night although that figure does not necessarily represent the number of people confirmed missing. About 1,600 buildings have been damaged or destroyed, including the towers of a historic cathedral in the city of Manizales. Several of the top floors of one of Cali’s hospitals – some dedicated to paediatric care – collapsed upon themselves, leaving some patients trapped and forcing about 600 others to be tended to on a street strewn with rubble, hospital director Irne Torres Castro told Caracol television. What do we know about the latest rescue efforts? De la Espriella, who assumed power on Friday, said rescuing people trapped under rubble was the government’s first priority, as he declared a state of emergeny. He traveled to Choco’s capital, Quibdo, on Monday night and announced he had mobilised “the entire military and police apparatus” to respond, deploying engineers, rescue workers and search dogs. Cali and Pereira implemented curfews on Monday night. “Our intention is to cooperate in any way necessary. Here, there are no distinctions or ideological divisions when it comes to defending our people or showing solidarity,” the president told journalists. “Choco will never again be the ‘land of the forgotten,'” he also said. Search and rescue operations continued into Tuesday with soldiers, emergency workers, firefighters, volunteers and relatives digging through collapsed buildings. In Cali, volunteers formed human chains to remove concrete, bricks and other debris by hand. Rescuers repeatedly stopped to listen for signs of life from people trapped beneath the rubble. Two women and two children were rescued from a collapsed building, firefighters said, while other teams continued searching for survivors. In Pereira, rescue workers said they were in contact with a boy trapped beneath a bakery while cranes were being used to remove dangerous sections of damaged buildings. Authorities have also deployed engineers, rescue workers and search dogs to Choco, where the extent of the destruction remains unclear because the region is remote and difficult to access. De la Espriella said the government had mobilised the “entire military and police apparatus” for the response. The rescue effort faces particular challenges in the Choco region, more than 200km (125 miles) west of Cali and Pereira. The city of San Jose Del Palmar was the epicentre of the earthquake, the United States Geological Survey said. It is a community of 4,800 people about 400km (250 miles) west of Bogota. Much of Choco is reachable only by boat or plane, which may pose a problem for authorities in assessing the wider toll. Colombia’s Geological Service said 21 aftershocks had been recorded by late Monday as authorities warned that further tremors were possible. Camila Gomez, the deputy director of programmes for Colombia and Venezuela at the International Rescue Committee, warned that the powerful earthquake hit a region already in deep crisis. “This is the largest earthquake that Colombia has experienced in two decades,” she told Al Jazeera. Gomez noted the damage in the areas hit was still being assessed. “From what we have seen already, there is a clear need, of course, for health services and education services because some of the education facilities – at least, I think, 50 of them – have been affected by this earthquake.” The earthquake hit at 7:34 am local (12:34 GMT) on Monday, with rescuers most likely to find survivors within 48 and 72 hours of the disaster. What has been the local response so far? Aside from extensive search and rescue efforts, Colombia declared a national state of emergency. De la Espriella visited Quibdo, the capital of the Choco region, and Cali and promised rental subsidies for people whose homes have been damaged. Authorities declared nighttime curfews in Cali, Armenia and Manizales. Cali also deployed additional police and military personnel amid concerns about looting. Hospitals in five cities were placed on red alert while authorities suspended operations at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura to allow for structural inspections. Civilians have played a major role in the immediate response, bringing food and supplies and helping firefighters search for survivors. Carmen Yasmin Garcia, 43, a Cali resident volunteering with rescue teams, said on Monday afternoon that her group had freed seven people from a collapsed building but four others and a dog remained trapped. “A moment ago, there was scratching, but now we can’t hear anything. We still have faith that the dog is alive and we can get these people out,” Garcia said. “We need people with sticks and spades. The more people lending a hand the better.” Authorities have also postponed the Petronio Alvarez Music Festival in Cali, an annual celebration of Pacific music that was due to start on Wednesday, as well as professional football matches. What has been the international response? The US announced $15.5m in emergency assistance for shelters, food and other earthquake relief. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was closely monitoring the situation and stood ready to support Colombia. The European Union said it mobilised the Copernicus satellite service to support rescue operations. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose countries were among the largest providers of aid to Venezuela after its twin earthquakes in June, said they were ready to assist Colombia. “From El Salvador, we are in communication and ready to provide immediate support with our rescue teams, medical personnel, paramedics, supplies or any other assistance that our Colombian brothers and sisters deem necessary,” Bukele said. Colombian pop megastar Shakira also led calls for unity. “All my strength and love to my homeland. Let’s hold each other tight,” she said.

As search for thousands of missing pushes on, Colombia earthquake tests new president As search for thousands of missing pushes on, Colombia earthquake tests new president PEREIRA, Colombia (AP) — Rescue crews and civilians in Colombia painstakingly searched through rubble Tuesday in the hopes of finding survivors trapped under debris after a powerful earthquake left thousands missing in dozens of cities and towns. The 7.4 magnitude earthquake that hit western Colombia on Monday wreaked havoc, collapsing buildings, buckling roads, crushing cars and leaving devastated residents to console each other among the wreckage of their homes. Excavators and heavy machinery cleared heavy chunks of concrete, while buckets of rubble were passed hand-to-hand along a line of volunteers. Rescue crews and volunteers picked through flattened concrete buildings in affected cities, searching for signs of life. They raised their hands to call for silence when they thought they heard someone beneath the piles of debris. At least one woman was retrieved — alive — from the rubble. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said the earthquake killed at least 181 people and left 2,595 more injured. He said at least 195 remained missing, but civilian-run databases suggest that number could be closer to 4,000. Crews race to find survivors Authorities said the deaths were concentrated in the cities of Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo, but local leaders and families worried about casualties and damage in rural areas, from where very little information has emerged. Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours crucial for retrieving people alive, though that threshold can be extended if they have access to food and water. De la Espriella said more than 1,000 homes were destroyed and yet more damaged. Standing near the remains of his brother’s collapsed apartment building in Pereira, Jairo Vargas said he made the 220-kilometer (135-mile) drive from Medellin, hoping to find him alive. “I’m absolutely certain he’s here. Absolutely certain,” Vargas said, adding that his brother’s car was still parked outside. But he fears his sibling did not survive. “The debris surrounding my brother is soft,” he said, as heavy machinery rumbled nearby. “It’s possible that it’s protecting him, but we can’t hear any noises anymore. I don’t know. I have little hope.” Colombia’s new president faces his first serious challenge The earthquake presents the first major test for first-time officeholder de la Espriella, who entered office just days before the natural disaster. The leader, who split the country in recent elections, now seeks to unite Colombia in its disaster response. That challenge was particularly notable in Choco, the region at the quake’s epicenter. It is one of Colombia’s poorest and most neglected regions, often beset by warring armed groups. Much of Choco is accessible only by boat, through the jungle or by airplane. Sterling Palacios, a religious and environmental leader in the region, said Choco’s capital and smaller communities along the Atrato River were devastated. Homes were reduced to rubble and aftershocks continued to rumble, terrifying residents who slept in the streets overnight. The Colombian Geological Service said it has documented more than 100 less powerful aftershocks since the initial quake. “There are towns where people have lost everything, where people have died, where homes have been destroyed,” he said. “We don’t have a full panorama of the damage, but we know it’s been massive.” De la Espriella traveled to Quibdo in Choco on Monday night where he announced he was mobilizing “the entire military and police apparatus,” as well as deploying engineers, rescue workers and search dogs. “Choco will never again be the ‘land of the forgotten,’” he said. Palacios said the government’s response has so far been “concentrated in the capital,” and that authorities were flying the wounded from Quibdo to hospitals in the city of Medellín. The biggest challenge, he said, remains towns in rural areas only reachable by boat — journeys that can take hours or days. That response is also complicated by a toxic slate of armed groups warring for control who, during the COVID-19 pandemic, blocked healthcare workers from traveling to remote areas. “It’s a risk and it’s very difficult to predict” what could happen, he said, adding it could take weeks to fully assess the devastation. Desperate residents seek news of their loved ones Families posted information about missing loved ones on citizen-run websites. Dana Carolina Zamora posted an image of her missing 60-year-old uncle, Miguel Ángel Zamora, cradling his dog. The farmer was living in a rural area of El Cairo, not far from the quake’s epicenter in San Jose Del Palmar. Local authorities said 80% of El Cairo, a town of about 7,000 people, was damaged. Zamora said her uncle lived in a traditional house of sticks and mud. “We are afraid. We hope that is not the case, that he is all right and that it is only a communication failure. But we haven’t heard anything from him,” Zamora said. The earthquake left many people unnerved after back-to-back quakes devastated neighboring Venezuela in late June, destroying hundreds of buildings and killing more than 6,300 people. Mónica Sánchez, who lives in Pereira, one of the worst-hit cities, said when the quake happened a wall collapsed inside her clothing factory. Sánchez and her 12 employees escaped just in time. “It was shocking — the city fell down around us,” she said. On Tuesday, rescue workers pulled a woman alive from the rubble. Diana Troncoso lay on a stretcher, dusty and scraped up, with her eyes closed. Observers burst into applause as she emerged, but search teams raised their hand to call for quiet so they could continue their search for survivors. Pereira and Cali enforced curfews Monday night to prevent looting, and private vehicles were banned from the roads of Pereira so ambulances, police and rescue workers were able to navigate what’s left of the roads. The U.S. State Department has announced it would provide $15.5 million for emergency shelter, food and other aid. Governments across Latin America have also lined up to help. “This has been a tragedy for the whole city, for thousands of families,” Pereira Mayor Mauricio Salazar told local media, his voice quavering. “But here we are, and we will continue forward with the hand of God.” ___ Suarez reported from Bogota, Colombia, and Janetsky reported from Mexico City. Associated Press reporter Manuel Rueda in Bogota contributed.

- Published A 32-year-old woman, who had been trapped under rubble for 36 hours following the 7.4-magnitude quake which shook western Colombia, has been rescued alive. Daniela Largo was pulled from beneath a collapsed building in the city of Pereira after a 10-hour-long rescue operation. Firefighters finally managed to reach her via a tunnel they dug below four concrete slabs under which she had been buried. At least 188 have died in the quake, according to official figures, and hundreds remain missing. In Pereira, a city in Colombia's coffee-growing region, 79 people are confirmed to have died, the second-highest number after Cali, where 95 are dead, according to figures by the Association of Colombian Capital Cities (Asocapitales). Largo's mother told AFP news agency that a local resident had heard her daughter cry out for help from beneath the rubble. Once emergency workers had arrived at the site, they were able to locate Largo with the help of a small camera. However, her rescue was complicated by the fact that four heavy concrete slabs were blocking the way. Local firefighters aided by colleagues deployed from the capital, Bogotá, and the disaster response team of the national police force had to dig two tunnels to reach her. Through one opening, dug from above, they were able to provide Largo with oxygen. But it was only through a second tunnel, dug from below, that they were able to free her. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella celebrated her rescue on social media, describing it as "news which fills us with hope". Largo's mother said that "at home, her 12-year-old son is waiting for her". In Pereira, at least 92 buildings collapsed. Fifteen people are known to be trapped and another 37 have been reported missing, according to Asocapitales. In Cali, Colombia's third most populous city, more than 200 people remained trapped as of 16:00 local time on Tuesday. The city's mayor declared a night-time curfew and said that soldiers would be on patrol in the worst-hit areas of Cali. "We need to ensure that the rescue work can be carried out safely," he said, adding that there was still hope of finding more people alive and everyone would do their utmost to free those trapped. Eighty-seven people have been rescued in the city so far. The 7.4-magnitude quake struck at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT) on Monday. It had its epicentre near the village of San José del Palmar, in Chocó province, but could be felt across a vast area. Seismometers nearest the epicentre registered shaking lasting between 90 seconds and two minutes. There have been more than 100 aftershocks since.

Colombia is experiencing a historically challenging moment, having suffered a 7.4-magnitude earthquake — six weeks after its neighbor, Venezuela, experienced two earthquakes of 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude in June. On the morning of Aug. 10, the earthquake shook the country’s Pacific Coast, with the epicenter in San José del Palmar, a city in the department of Chocó, 150 miles west of Bogotá, where the tremor was also felt. The destruction and collapse of multiple buildings, leaving citizens trapped under the rubble in various areas of the country, including Cauca, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda and Quindío, among others, led the government to declare a national disaster. According to recent reports by CNN, on Tuesday (Aug. 11), the death toll surpassed 200 people, with 3,000 missing — and the number is expected to continue to rise, as emergency personnel work to clear the rubble and continue their rescue efforts, but have yet to reach the epicenter. The Colombian Geological Service (CGS), a government agency dedicated to researching subsoil resources, monitoring geological hazards and managing nuclear materials, reports that this is the largest-magnitude seismic event recorded in Colombia in the 21st century. Since the 7.4 quake on Monday, the organization has recorded more than 70 aftershocks in numerous cities across the country. During the early morning of Aug. 11, several seismic replicas were reported across different regions of the country; although the aftershocks were less powerful than the initial event, their magnitudes were recorded as 3.0, 3.2, 3.6, and 3.8. CGS reports that this effect can last an unprecedented amount of time: “for days, weeks, or even months — because, when a high-magnitude, shallow earthquake occurs, energy continues to be released until the areas surrounding the rupture zone of the main earthquake balance out again.” Hours after the incident, the U.S. government declared that it would be contributing $15.5 million to relief efforts as the number of fatalities and injuries continues to rise. Various artists, organizations and musicians have spoken out in support of Colombia to raise funds and provide information for people to assist those who are affected by the tragedy. Here is a list of ways you can help, in alphabetical order. - All Hands & Hearts All Hands & Hearts was born in 2017 after two organizations — Happy Hearts Fund and All Hands Volunteers — joined forces to help communities recover after disasters and to assist in rebuilding schools. “Our team has been on the ground since the day of the earthquake, coordinating with local authorities and partners, assessing needs, and procuring emergency supplies for search-and-rescue teams in Pereira, including tools, PPE, and other needed items. We will continue to assess and meet needs as more information becomes available, with initial activities focused on supporting first responders and displaced households with emergency relief items,” says a statement on their website. To donate to All Hands & Hearts’ Colombia earthquake response, click here. - Americares Americares began as an effort to deliver medical supplies to Cambodian refugees fleeing the Khmer Rouge in 1979. Its founder Robert Macauley developed it into a global health and disaster relief organization that has responded to natural disasters, humanitarian outbreaks and humanitarian crises by providing medicine, medical supplies, health services and emergency funding in more than 160 countries. “Americares Colombia team members in Bogotá and Barranquilla immediately mobilized to support the relief efforts, contacting local officials and health care organizations in the hardest-hit communities with offers of assistance,” the organization states on its website. “A team from Americares arrived in Cali, one of the hardest-hit cities, this morning to assess the immediate health needs. Americares stands ready to deliver medicines, medical supplies and emergency funding to support survivors.” To donate to Americares, click here. - GlobalGiving GlobalGiving was founded in 2002 by two ex-World Bank employees. The organization is a nonprofit crowdfunding platform connecting donors to vetted, community-led organizations in over 175 countries. It has been actively supporting disaster relief efforts since 2004. The organization launched a Colombia Earthquake Relief Fund to provide urgent and long-term support to communities affected by the earthquake: “The GlobalGiving Colombia Earthquake Relief Fund will provide local organizations with flexible, rapid funding to deliver emergency medical care, search and rescue support, temporary shelter, food, clean water, hygiene supplies, and other essential services. It will also help communities begin rebuilding and recovering as they face the long-term impacts of this disaster.” To donate to GlobalGiving’s Colombia Earthquake Relief Fund, click here. - International Rescue Committee The International Rescue Committee was founded upon request from Albert Einstein in 1933, to help people being persecuted after Adolf Hitler took power. The organization currently operates in more than 40 countries and 29 cities in the United States, focusing on people affected by conflict, persecution, natural disasters and other crises management, survival and recovery efforts, for them to rebuild their lives after escaping a difficult situation. “Local communities were already facing armed conflict and high levels of poverty long before the ground began to shake,” says Nicola Cast, country director for Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador in a statement on the website. “Chocó, at the epicenter of the quake, is the poorest region in the country. We are deeply concerned that today’s natural disaster will make the needs on the ground even steeper as people lose access to health care and other essential services. We remain ready to deploy an emergency response as the scale of need becomes more clear.” To donate to UNICEF USA, click here. - Project HOPE Project HOPE has been operating for more than 65 years, after it began in 1958 with the S.S. HOPE, a hospital ship that provided medical care and trained health care workers worldwide. It now operates in 25 countries, with the goal of strengthening local healthcare systems and responding to disasters, health crises and infectious diseases. “Project HOPE has extensive experience responding to earthquakes around the globe,” says a statement on their website. We aim to address both urgent and long-term needs, stabilize local health systems, and ensure families have adequate access to primary health care; mental health and psychosocial support (including psychological first aid); shelter; and water, sanitation, and hygiene. To donate to All Hands & Hearts’ Colombia earthquake response, click here. - The House Project Founded by Ricardo Montaner’s family nearly 20 years ago, The House Project supports vulnerable communities in Colombia, Venezuela, India, Jordan and the Dominican Republic in provision of food, shelter, medical care and education. After the earthquake in Colombia, the organization is raising funds to assist families who have been displaced or lost their homes due to the disaster in seeking temporary shelter. “When the earth shakes, we rise together,” the organization says on its website. “Support families by providing shelter to those who need it most.” To donate to The House Project, click here. - UNICEF USA UNICEF focuses on efforts involving children affected by natural disasters and conflicts on a global scale. The organization raises funds in the United States and operates in more than 190 countries and territories with the mission of helping children in need. “UN teams in Colombia are coordinating with national authorities and the country’s disaster risk management agency to closely monitor the situation and support the national response.” To donate to UNICEF USA, click here. - World Central Kitchen Chef José Andrés’ World Central Kitchen was founded in 2010 following the earthquake in Haiti that devastated the country. Andrés traveled to the island and spent time cooking alongside displaced families, recognizing the importance of working closely with local communities and cooking for them with their needs and traditions in mind. That’s how the mission to provide fresh meals during humanitarian and climate crises affecting communities globally was born. “WCK teams and local partners are working to serve meals to people in need as quickly as possible,” the organization says. WCK has deep connections in Colombia. When low-lying areas of the Córdoba department flooded in February, WCK teams worked alongside longtime local partners, including Fundación Gastronomía Social, to serve meals to families forced from their homes. Chef Corps member Harry Sasson also joined the team on the ground to help cook for his community. To donate to World Central Kitchen, click here.

Footage posted on social media shows a young baby being pulled alive from the rubble of a destroyed building in Colombia after a Monday.The video, posted by Brian Osorio Zuluaga on Monday night, shows a group of people combing through the rubble of a building in Cali, asking a survivor trapped underneath if he is alone. "I'm with a baby," the man can be heard saying in a muffled voice. As they race to remove pieces of concrete with their bare hands, the muffled cries of a child are heard. Another video shows a man holding the crying infant, with his arms covered in blood and the lower half of his body still trapped in rubble. The five men in the video slowly remove the baby then shout for a paramedic before erupting in a euphoric cheer. The last video posted by Zuluaga shows the workers continuing to help free the man who had been holding the baby. "Today I understood, more than ever, that no one is really prepared to live through a situation like the one we are experiencing today," Zuluaga wrote on the post accompanying the videos. He described being among the first people at that location and helping a group of people rescue others. "A helping hand can make the difference between life and death," Zuluaga wrote. "In moments like this, differences don't matter, what matters is helping." The conditions of the baby and the adult who held him were not immediately clear. Search teams and volunteers across the country are racing against time to save anyone who may still be alive under the rubble. Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella, who had only been in power for days when the disaster struck, said at least 181 people had died and 2,595 were injured. On Wednesday, authorities in Cali said the current death toll stands at 216. Civilian-run databases estimate nearly 4,000 people are still unaccounted for. The U.S. has offered over $15 million in aid and Mexico's president said she is prepared to send hundreds of search and health workers, tons of health supplies and other equipment. On Tuesday afternoon, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said his country would send two planes loaded with 100 tons of aid in the coming days. "Our prayers are with the families of the victims, the wounded and all the Colombian people," Bukele wrote on X.

While rescuers continue working against the clock to find people among the rubble, after the tragic earthquake in Colombia, the case of a young woman rescued after being more than 30 hours under the debris rekindles the families of the missing with hope. It is Daniela Andrea Largo Sánchez, who was beneath the remains of a hotel in downtown Pereira. The woman spent more than 35 hours under the ruins of the building, while dozens of rescuers with dogs and volunteers worked day and night to remove chunks of fallen walls after the 7.4-magnitude earthquake on Monday. Wrapped in a blue blanket and on a stretcher, the 32-year-old woman was taken away in an ambulance. “I am happy because when we had searched for her for so long and as we were losing hope, we received a call,” said the woman’s mother, Sandra Milena Pérez, 50, to AFP. Meanwhile, the Colombian president, Abelardo de la Espriella, cited the case of the young woman as an example of the rescuers’ work in crucial hours. “We trust in God and in the tireless work of our rescue teams so that more Colombians are found alive and can return to the arms of their families,” the president posted on X. There is hope! — Abelardo De La Espriella (@ABDELAESPRIELLA) August 12, 2026 We trust in our rescuers and in the dogs that work non-stop, day and night, to find our missing brothers. Just a few minutes ago, in Pereira, Daniela Andrea Largo Sánchez, 30, was found alive after seven hours… pic.twitter.com/xw1YCdUZIb De La Espriella highlighted Largo Sánchez’s rescue effort, which took seven hours of work until they were able to find her alive among the rubble. The young woman’s mother said a neighbor heard cries for help under the rubble, then called volunteers and professional rescuers to try to save her, while she was under one of the building’s plants that pressed on her legs. The rescuers continue searching the mountain of debris from which Largo emerged. Pereira is one of the cities most affected by the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck on Monday morning, hitting several cities in the coffee-growing region and the Pacific, which to date left 240 dead and about 2,700 missing. D.D. Clarín Newsletter

When the deadly 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, Brian Osorio Zuluaga ran out of his office in Cali and rushed home on his motorbike. The sight of a collapsed five-story residential building forced him to stop. “It was a large complex, covering an entire block,” Osorio told CNN. The quake was the strongest to hit Colombia in more than a decade and sent residents and neighbors of the building, La Torres del Limonar, fleeing into the street, “some in sleepwear or pajamas; some crying, others in shock,” Osorio said. He approached the rubble and began shouting into the wreckage for survivors, despite warnings about a possible gas leak. He suddenly asked those around him for silence. A faint sound rose out of the debris — barely a whisper. “Yes, I’m here. I’m with a baby,” a man’s voice replied. Osorio described how he and several others began moving debris with their hands to reach the pair. But a large concrete slab blocked their way. “On the first attempt, we couldn’t lift it,” he said. Then, “we all lifted together — one, two, three, up.” The slab was too heavy to toss aside, and Osorio was worried there could be more people trapped underneath. Some volunteers held it aloft as others cleared a path to the baby. “You can see the baby’s little head there — which, at the time, looked sort of purplish because he couldn’t breathe,” Osorio said. “Once we started removing the rubble, the baby began to… breathe, and his color started to come back.” Video of the remarkable rescue filmed by Osorio shows the tiny infant in a dusty bodysuit being carefully pulled out of the wreckage. A man, his arm bloodied, can be seen lying awkwardly on his side, still half-trapped under a concrete plank. Osorio said he was handed the baby, a boy, and gave him to a police officer, who took him to an ambulance. They then turned their attention to freeing the trapped man. In the rubble, Osorio said he saw clothes, shoes, and a stuffed animal covered in dust. He thought about the people who might still be trapped. “All those thoughts go through your mind,” he said. The bravery of everyone who rushed to help was what saved the lives of both man and baby. “Unity is strength, because no one person alone could have lifted that piece of rubble; it was so large and so heavy,” he said. “It’s better to act than to stand still,” Osorio added. “Every bit helps.” Rescue efforts enter third day Search and rescue operations entered their third day early on Wednesday, as emergency responders raced to find more survivors after the powerful quake struck western Colombia, killing more than 200 people, according to a CNN count based on reports from officials. The quake struck at the heart of the country’s coffee-growing region and catapulted communities into a state of national disaster as world leaders offered aid and assistance. The European Union has mobilized its satellite service Copernicus and is providing funding to help the response, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. In Cali, a woman was pulled from under a mountain of rubble on Tuesday to cheers as firemen carried her out on a stretcher following a complex, multinational rescue operation. And in Pereira, a CNN team on the ground saw rescue workers and volunteers form a human chain to remove debris and help save those trapped from an apartment building. “There’s folks who have jumped in and you can see they’re wearing everything from athleisure wear to shorts, tennis shoes — they’re not prepared for this,” CNN’s senior national correspondent David Culver said from the site. “We have seen scenes like this scattered throughout Pereira. This is one of the hardest-hit areas.” But in the epicenter of Monday’s earthquake, Chocó, an indigenous leader told CNN that help has yet to reach the area, Colombia’s poorest region. Victor Chamapuro, leader of the Wounaan Indigenous Reserve “Buenavista” in Chocó’s Litoral del San Juan, said “all our houses are on the ground.” “Where are we going to sleep now? We have to be alert now, we’re sleeping outside,” he said. Chamapuro called on authorities to send food and medicine, saying one person in the community was injured. The “Buenavista” reserve can only be reached by boat on a five-hour journey from the port of Buenaventura, on Colombia’s Pacific coast. Video sent by Chamapuro from the reserve shows flattened buildings that appear to be built from timber and corrugated iron sheets. Others are still standing but with varying levels of damage. The earthquake is one of the first major challenges for Colombia’s new far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office only last week and has promised to strike hard at criminal groups and leftist militants in Colombia. De la Espriella on Tuesday announced economic relief measures for those affected by the quake, and financial support for people who have lost their homes to rent temporary housing. CNN’s Ivonne Valdes, Michael Rios, Maureen Chowdhury, Mauricio Torres and Gonzalo Zegarra contributed reporting.

To stay informed - Rescue of a woman who spent 35 hours trapped under the rubble of a hotel - Peru sends a plane with 12.5 tons of aid - Reopening of Pereira International Airport is still uncertain - Ecuador opens two collection centers to send aid to those affected - Indigenous Colombian communities near the epicenter call for help - The death toll from the Colombia earthquake rises to 240 - El Salvador sends humanitarian aid - The pope expresses his sorrow over the Colombia earthquake and his gratitude to the rescuers - Red Cross mobilizes in Colombia with priority given to rescuing victims - Germany expresses its support to the Colombian people after the devastating earthquake - Latvia and Estonia send condolences for the Colombia earthquake - The EU activates its consular assistance and satellite aid following the earthquake in Colombia Bishops of Honduras express solidarity with Colombia and call for hope The Honduras Episcopal Conference (CEH) expressed this Tuesday its “solidarity” with the Colombian people after the devastating earthquake and urged maintaining hope and unity to face the tragedy. In a message addressed to the Archbishop of Cartagena and president of the Colombian Episcopal Conference, Monsignor Francisco Javier Múnera Correa, the CEH said it received the news of the earthquake “with great pain” and expressed its “fraternal closeness” and “solidarity” with those affected. “We extend our prayers for the eternal rest of those who have died; we pray for the recovery of the injured and for the consolation of the families who mourn today,” reads the CEH’s message, which also highlighted the Colombian people’s ability to face difficult situations and stressed that the tragedy cannot destroy hope. “Amid everything that has collapsed, we especially want to convey a word of hope to the noble Colombian people. Adversity can bring down buildings, roads, and materials built with much effort, but it cannot bring down the faith, the hope, and the strength of a people that has known how to rise again on other occasions,” it emphasized. (efe, Episcopal Conference of Honduras) Colombia will receive international aid to respond to the emergency Colombia is preparing to receive international aid from countries such as the United States, Mexico, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Peru to address the emergency caused by the earthquake that shook several areas of the country on Monday and left at least 240 deaths according to the authorities of the departments. “We have already received from multilateral organizations proposals of 1.3 billion dollars of cooperation of various kinds amid this tragedy,” said this Tuesday the Colombian vice president, José Manuel Restrepo, who noted that several countries have offered rescue teams, humanitarian aid, and financial resources. The situation contrasts with the uncertainty that had surrounded up to now the arrival of international assistance, since the United Nations said it had not received an official request from Colombia. “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reports that, following the earthquake that affected several areas of the country, the Foreign Ministry called on the international community to request support in addressing the emergency to counteract the points with the greatest impact and disaster,” said the Foreign Ministry in its X account. By order of the president, Abelardo de la Espriella, the Foreign Ministry installed a command post for international cooperation led by the foreign minister to coordinate offers from governments and multilateral organizations. (efe, Government of Colombia) Rescue of a woman who spent 35 hours under the hotel rubble Amid cheers and applause, Daniela Largo was rescued on the night of this Tuesday (11.08.2026) from under the rubble of a hotel in downtown Pereira, as hope of finding survivors of the powerful earthquake that devastated that city and others in western Colombia waned. The woman was under the rubble for more than 35 hours while dozens of rescuers with dogs and volunteers worked day and night to remove pieces of walls. Wrapped in a blue blanket on a stretcher, Largo, 32, was taken to an ambulance. Rescuers hugged and shouted joy around her. “I’m happy because when we had looked for her so much (...) and when we were losing hope, we received a call” that rekindled the anticipation, her mother, Sandra Milena Pérez, 50, told AFP. A neighbor who participated in the search “heard that they were asking for help,” alerted the other rescuers, and since Tuesday afternoon they began to move the rubble. “I thank him with all my heart because thanks to him today we are happy (...) because a son is waiting for her at home,” added the mother and homemaker. Largo was taken to a hospital, where her health status will be assessed. (afp, Bogotá Firefighters) Peru sends plane with 12.5 tons of aid The Government of Peru announced the dispatch of a plane with 12.5 tons of humanitarian aid for those affected by the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck central Colombia on Monday, with at least 188 dead, according to the country’s president Keiko Fujimori, who added that another plane with a rescue team would depart on Wednesday. From the facilities of the 8th Air Group of the Peruvian Air Force (FAP), adjacent to Lima International Airport, the president detailed that the aid includes food, shelter tents, coats, beds, mattresses, mosquito nets, and other supplies. The FAP C-130 aircraft will fly to Colombia in the coming hours, and Fujimori indicated that the foreign minister, Carlos Espá, will be in charge of delivering the aid on behalf of the Executive. (efe, Correo) Reopening of Pereira International Airport is still uncertain Pereira’s Matecaña International Airport remains with commercial operations suspended, and there is uncertainty about reopening due to the severe damage to its infrastructure caused by the earthquake. The terminal, the main facility in the Eje Cafetero tourist region and whose renovation was delivered in 2020, is one of Pereira’s most affected buildings, the capital of Risaralda department, where three people died while waiting to board an Avianca flight. In videos posted on social media, part of the airport’s roof can be seen collapsing, along with the façade detaching and glass shattering during the earthquake. A day later, hundreds of people work to clear debris and restore commercial operation of the terminal. Airport workers throw roof pieces and debris out of the terminal, while engineers assess the damages to the infrastructure, which so far make it impossible for citizens to enter the site. According to Aeronáutica Civil (Aerocivil), at this moment only state, medical, search, rescue, and humanitarian aid flights are landing at this terminal. “This restriction will remain in effect while specialized teams carry out the necessary interventions for the cracks identified on the runway, the disconnection of ATS communication systems, and the technical assessments of the air traffic control tower,” the agency added in a statement. (efe, El Comercio) Ecuador opens two collection centers to send aid to those affected The Ecuadorian government will open two humanitarian aid collection centers on Wednesday to send aid to Colombia. The National Secretariat of Risk Management (SNGR) announced on Tuesday that the centers, one in Quito and another in Guayaquil, will be open until Friday, and through them citizens’ support will be channeled to families in need of assistance. In Quito, donations will be collected at the Coliseum of the Army Forces University (ESPE) and in Guayaquil at the Coliseum of the University of Guayaquil, from 08:30 to 17:00 (13:30 to 22:00 GMT). In addition to donations, Ecuador has made available to Colombia 47 rescuers, specialized dogs, and Quito Fire Department teams with autonomy to operate for seven days. (efe, El Universo) They find two Argentines alive who had been reported missing Two Argentines who had been reported missing after the earthquake in Colombia managed to contact their families on Tuesday. Carlos Cáceres, 69, and Carlos Alberto Ricchetti, 54, were in the towns of Dosquebradas and Pereira, respectively, when the quake struck on Monday morning. Since then, their families had not heard from them until they managed to contact and confirm they are alive on Tuesday. “We had a lot of faith; we knew we would find him,” said Carla Cáceres, daughter of Carlos Cáceres, to local channel Todo Noticias. “The place where he is there is no light yet; they still have no electricity. We contacted him thanks to someone who saw the news,” the woman added. Ricchetti, who lives in Pereira, managed to contact his sister Roxana on Tuesday afternoon. (efe, Mendoza Post, La Nación) Conmebol reschedules matches suspended in Colombia Conmebol rescheduled for the weeks of August 18 and 25 the Round of 16 ties of the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana that were suspended due to the strong earthquake that hit Colombia. The football governing body in South America had postponed the games that were to be played on Tuesday and Wednesday in Colombian territory. The away leg of the Libertadores Round of 16 between Deportes Tolima and Independiente del Valle will be played on August 18 in the central city of Colombia at 19:30 local time (02:30 CET on Wednesday the 19th). Likewise, the first leg of the Round of 16 in the Sudamericana between Independiente Santa Fe and River Plate will be held on August 19 in Bogotá at 19:30 local time (02:30 CET on Thursday the 20th). (afp, efe) Indigenous Colombians near the epicenter call for help Indigenous peoples inhabiting the western cordillera of Colombia and the lower Baudó River basin, in the remote Chocó department, epicenter of the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck much of the country on Monday, are clamoring for humanitarian aid one day after the tragedy. “As a national indigenous organization that supports and represents indigenous communities in different regions of the country, especially in the Chocó department, we urgently request to manage and guarantee immediate humanitarian aid for the affected communities,” says a statement from the Traditional Indigenous Authorities of Colombia. According to this organization, aid is urgently required in the municipalities of Litoral del San Juan, on the boundary between Chocó and Valle del Cauca, near the port of Buenaventura. Also, the Chocó municipalities of Alto Baudó, Bajo San Juan, and San José del Palmar, where the earthquake’s epicenter was located, according to the Colombian Geological Service. In footage recorded by residents of the area and aired by EFE on Tuesday, seismic waves from the earthquake are clearly visible, shaking the ground and causing panic among people in this part of the western cordillera. (efe, El Tiempo, Canal Nortevisión) United States sends a disaster response team to Colombia The U.S. government announced sending a disaster response team to Colombia to assist authorities after yesterday’s powerful earthquake. The State Department detailed in a post on X that the Trump administration and the U.S. embassy in Bogotá are “in direct contact” with the new Colombian president, Abelardo de la Espriella. “Yesterday, the United States activated a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) that will arrive today in Colombia to support the government’s critical operations, planning, and overall coordination of the response,” the department stated. (efe, StateDept) El Salvador sends Colombia 100 tons of humanitarian aid El Salvador will send two planes with a total of 100 tons of humanitarian aid to Colombia, announced President Nayib Bukele. One plane will depart today and the second tomorrow, the president stated in a post on X. Bukele explained that “the Colombian Government has requested humanitarian aid only in the form of supplies to assist the families affected by the earthquake,” since Colombian rescue, medical, and other emergency teams are deployed and attending the situation, and therefore do not require personnel support at this moment. (efe, @nayibbukele) Early rescues from the rubble bring hope to Colombia Biomedical engineer Diana Troncoso, 31, was rescued alive on Tuesday from the rubble of a four-story building that collapsed in the Torres del Limonar neighborhood in Cali due to the earthquake. The building had 54 apartments and, according to neighbors who supplied authorities, more than 20 people may remain trapped under the debris. The rescue of Troncoso began around five p.m. on Monday, when volunteer rescuer Santiago Aguirre, 25, ventured into the remains and heard sounds indicating someone was trapped. “It was five o’clock, the guy risked his life. The kid is a hero; he went in and found her. Then firefighters arrived with dogs and confirmed it; from there they didn’t stop,” David Vargas, a volunteer rescuer from the city, told EFE. This rescue thus became one of the hopeful moments amid operations continuing in Cali to locate missing or trapped people. According to Cali authorities, the capital of Valle del Cauca, 45 buildings collapsed totally or partially, 239 people have been reported as trapped, and 86 have been rescued. (efe, BomberosBogotá) De la Espriella puts the death toll at 181 from the earthquake, 59 fewer than regional data The Colombian president, Abelardo de la Espriella, put the national death toll at 181 on Tuesday, a figure that contrasts with the at least 240 deaths tallied by authorities in the most affected departments. “Right now we have 181 deaths nationwide, 2,595 wounded, 195 missing, 1,136 homes destroyed, 48 buildings collapsed, 8,357 homes damaged, and 807 educational centers also damaged,” the president told reporters in Pereira, the Risaralda department capital and one of the cities affected by the earthquake. (efe, elTiempo) At least 240 dead in four regions of Colombia due to the earthquake The 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday has caused at least 240 deaths, according to the balances published by various regional authorities in the affected areas. In the municipalities of Valle del Cauca and other departments, the death toll continues to rise as responders assess the damage, with many communities still reporting missing persons and collapsed structures. (Note: The original TEXT_1 ends abruptly; this translation preserves that truncation.)

Socorristas y voluntarios colombianos rescataron con vida el martes a una mujer de 32 años bajo los escombros de un edificio derrumbado, en medio de vítores y aplausos mientras los equipos, agotados, buscan más supervivientes del terremoto más fuerte que ha sufrido el país este siglo. Daniela Largo estuvo más de 35 horas bajo las ruinas de un hotel, hasta que salió en una camilla envuelta en una manta azul, mientras los equipos de rescate y los familiares gritaban de alegría. El terremoto de magnitud 7,4 sacudió la mañana del lunes a varias ciudades de la región cafetera y del Pacífico. En medio de las calles llenas de vidrios, pedazos de muros y cables colgando avanzan las labores de rescate. Las autoridades revisaron a la baja el número de muertos, con un total de 216, después de que la gobernación del Valle del Cauca y la alcaldía de Cali corrigieran las cifras anteriores. "En el momento que estábamos perdiendo las esperanzas, recibimos una llamada", dijo a la AFP la madre, Sandra Milena Pérez, en Pereira. Pérez explicó que un vecino oyó gritos de auxilio bajo los escombros y llamó a voluntarios y rescatistas profesionales para intentar salvarla. En Pereira y Cali, las ciudades más afectadas, las familias duermen en los parques por el temor a las réplicas. Manzanas enteras quedaron reducidas a escombros. "Con las manos, con guantes trabajamos en esto (...) Es triste ver que el tiempo se nos está pasando", para encontrar gente con vida, dijo Pablo César Ruiz, voluntario en Cali. Beatriz Arcos estuvo cerca de una hora bajo las ruinas de su apartamento en Cali. Un muro le cayó encima. Fue atendida en el hospital y regresó a ver lo que quedó del edificio de tres pisos donde vivía. "Es tan rápido que uno no puede ni explicar (...) Mi esposo sufrió, mi mamá también se golpeó las piernas", dijo aún dolorida en la espalda. Sentada frente a la edificación, espera que su hijo pueda rescatar documentos y pertenencias. Los equipos de emergencia trabajaban con grúas, perros y maquinaria, mientras los voluntarios forman cadenas humanas para retirar los escombros a mano. Varias instalaciones hospitalarias resultaron dañadas y muchos pacientes fueron atendidos en las aceras. Las escuelas públicas están cerradas. Los vecinos se suman a los bomberos con picos y palas y escarban con las manos entre los escombros. Cada tanto los equipos de rescate se detienen para escuchar alguna señal de vida. Un mero silbido de respuesta anima a las brigadas, explicó el voluntario Andrés Felipe Mejía. Así fue que llegaron hasta un hombre y su nieto bebé en un edificio derrumbado, aunque la madre del niño seguía atrapada, según explicó. El presidente Abelardo de la Espriella, que asumió el 7 de agosto, declaró el estado de emergencia en el país y ha visitado las ciudades más afectadas. Ubicada en el turístico Eje Cafetero, Pereira es la segunda ciudad más golpeada con 72 fallecidos. La mayoría de los 480.000 habitantes quedaron sin electricidad y poca conexión a internet. El martes recorrían las calles en motocicletas para constatar la magnitud del desastre. Pasan la noche a la intemperie por temor a las réplicas o porque sus viviendas están muy agrietadas. "Es de película (...) como de terror porque es todo a oscuras, pero también es muy bonito la gente como se une", dijo Daniel Hernández, un tatuador y voluntario de 31 años. En un parque se levanta hoy un refugio improvisado con carpas y colchones. En los supermercados escasea el agua y alimentos. "Perdimos todo pero estamos vivos", dijo John Tabasco, un mesero de 23 años, junto a su mujer e hijo de siete meses. "Han sido momentos de miedo, pánico, psicosis", añadió. En medio de la destrucción, muchos se movilizaron para ayudar. Miles llevaron agua, comida y suministros a los barrios afectados, mientras se formaban largas colas frente a los centros de donación de sangre. El epicentro del terremoto se ubicó cerca de San José del Palmar, en Chocó, una región pobre a la cual resulta difícil acceder debido al daño en las carreteras. Durante una visita a Pereira el martes, De la Espriella anunció ayudas para los damnificados, entre ellos subsidios de vivienda. El sismo evoca la tragedia del fuerte terremoto de 1999 que dejó casi 1.200 muertos en la zona cafetera. El terremoto también afectó a seis aeropuertos, de los cuales dos permanecen cerrados para vuelos comerciales este martes. Cali, Pereira y Manizales ordenaron toques de queda nocturnos. Estados Unidos, aliado del nuevo gobierno, ofreció una ayuda de 15,5 millones de dólares para atender la emergencia.

Opens in a new window Opens an external website Opens an external website in a new window <!---->Close this consent banner<!----> We and our 55 IAB TCF partners store and access information on your device for the following purposes: store and/or access information on a device, advertising and content measurement, audience research, and services development, personalised advertising, and personalised content. Personal data may be processed to do the following: use precise geolocation data and actively scan device characteristics for identification. Our third party IAB TCF partners may store and access information on your device such as IP address and device characteristics. Our IAB TCF Partners may process this personal data on the basis of legitimate interest, or with your consent. You may change or withdraw your preferences for this website at any time by clicking on the cookie icon or link; however, as a consequence, you may not see relevant ads or personalized content. You may change your settings at any time or accept the default settings. You may close this banner to continue with only essential cookies. Terms of Service Storage Preferences Third Parties Storage Targeted Advertising Personalization Analytics Save Accept All Reject Non-Essential Storage Preferences <!----><!----> !Bomberos y equipos de rescate sacan a la sobreviviente Daniela Andrea Largo Sánchez de entre los escombros de un edificio colapsado tras un terremoto en Pereira, Colombia, el 11 de agosto de 2026. Bomberos y equipos de rescate sacan a la sobreviviente Daniela Andrea Largo Sánchez de entre los escombros de un edificio colapsado tras un terremoto en Pereira, Colombia, el 11 de agosto de 2026. DAVID SALAZAR AFP via Getty Images Entre gritos de júbilo y aplausos, Daniela Largo fue rescatada de entre los escombros de un hotel en el centro de Pereira, cuando se agotan las esperanzas de encontrar sobrevivientes del potente terremoto que devastó esa y otras ciudades del oeste de Colombia. La mujer estuvo más de 35 horas bajo las ruinas del edificio, mientras decenas de socorristas con perros y voluntarios trabajaban día y noche para remover pedazos de muros caídos tras el sismo de magnitud 7,4 del lunes. Envuelta en una manta azul y en una camilla salió Largo, de 32 años, hacia una ambulancia. Los socorristas se abrazaban y gritaban alegres alrededor. “Estoy feliz porque cuando ya la habíamos buscado tanto (...) y en el momento que estábamos perdiendo las esperanzas, recibimos una llamada” que volvió a encender la ilusión, dijo a la AFP su madre, Sandra Milena Pérez, de 50 años. Un vecino que participaba en las labores de búsqueda “escuchó que estaban pidiendo ayuda”, alertó a los demás socorristas y desde la tarde del martes empezaron a remover los escombros. Cuando cayó la noche, prendieron las linternas y siguieron sin desfallecer pese a la penumbra que envuelve a esta ciudad que quedó sin electricidad en casi todos los barrios tras el sismo. “Le agradezco de todo corazón porque gracias a él (al vecino) hoy estamos felices (...), porque en la casa la está esperando un hijo” de 12 años, añadió la madre y ama de casa. Largo fue llevada a un hospital, donde evaluarán su estado de salud. - Búsqueda y temor - El rescate no fue fácil. Largo estaba debajo de una de las plantas del edificio que le oprimía las piernas. Los socorristas, agachados, intentaban alcanzarla. “¡Daniela, cierra los ojos!”, le gritaban los rescatistas protegidos con cascos y chalecos reflectantes mientras trataban de extraerla. La madre vivió momentos de “demasiada angustia”, relató emocionada. Pero “con paciencia, esperando”, tuvo su recompensa. En la mañana la AFP registró a Pérez con un cartel de “se busca” y la fotografía de su hija, mientras recorría los alrededores. Pereira es una de las ciudades más afectadas por la embestida del terremoto que dejó cientos de heridos. Las autoridades revisaron la noche del martes a la baja el número de muertos, con un total de 216, después de que la gobernación del Valle del Cauca y la alcaldía de Cali corrigieran las cifras anteriores. Los socorristas continúan buscando en la montaña de escombros de donde salió Largo. “Si alguien me escucha, grite o haga un ruido”, clamaba uno de ellos y pide a los demás “silencio”. En una zona cercana, Viviana Loaiza estaba desconsolada. Va a completar dos días buscando a su hermano Pablo, una persona sin hogar de 29 años, que quedó bajo los restos de un edificio que tenía una panadería en la planta baja y apartamentos en los demás niveles. “Vemos que sacan y sacan y no pueden encontrar nada”, dice en medio del llanto la mujer de 39 años, que trabaja vendiendo café en las calles. Estaba junto a su hermano comprando pan cuando empezó el terremoto. Ella salió y “él corrió hacia (el interior de) la panadería”, cuando todo se vino abajo. La mujer pasa las noches en un parque junto a su hija y una tía porque su casa también colapsó. Reciba acceso digital ilimitado TuNoticiaLocal Pruebe 1 mes por $1 RECLAME SU OFERTA Reseñas de productos de nuestros socios Guías de Compra Belleza y cuidado Personal Deporte y Outdoors Electrónicos y Tecnología Hogar y Electrodomésticos Mamas y Bebés

Socorristas y voluntarios trabajaban sin descanso este miércoles en Colombia en busca de señales de vida entre los escombros, cuando corre el tercer día desde el terremoto que deja más de 200 muertos. El hallazgo de Daniela Largo, de 32 años, extraída entre las ruinas con vida en la noche en medio de aplausos y vítores, insufló ánimos a la desesperada búsqueda de sobrevivientes. “Estoy feliz porque cuando ya la habíamos buscado tanto (...) y en el momento que estábamos perdiendo las esperanzas, recibimos una llamada”, confió a la AFP Sandra Milena Pérez, madre de la mujer que pasó 35 horas atrapada bajo los escombros de un hotel de Pereira. Publicidad A casi 48 horas del sismo de magnitud 7,4 que causó destrucción en las principales ciudades del oeste de Colombia, equipos de emergencia trabajan con grúas, perros y maquinaria. Los voluntarios forman cadenas humanas para retirar los escombros a mano. Los expertos consideran que la ventana crítica para salvar vidas se cierra a las 72 horas. “Con las manos, con guantes trabajamos en esto (...). Es triste ver que el tiempo se nos está pasando” para encontrar gente con vida, dijo Pablo César Ruiz, voluntario en Cali. Publicidad Publicidad Sobre enormes montañas de escombros, los socorristas y voluntarios alzan los puños y piden silencio para buscar. Vecinos y familiares observan expectantes en las aceras. La madre de la mujer rescatada con vida anoche contó que un vecino de Pereira escuchó los llamados de auxilio y alertó a los rescatistas. “Estamos felices (...) porque en la casa la está esperando un hijo” de 12 años, dijo. A la intemperie En Pereira y Cali, las ciudades más afectadas, las familias han dormido en los parques por el temor a nuevos terremotos. Manzanas enteras quedaron reducidas a escombros. “Perdimos todo pero estamos vivos”, dijo en un parque de Pereira John Tabasco, un mesero de 23 años, junto a su mujer e hijo de siete meses. “Han sido momentos de miedo, pánico, psicosis”, añadió. Lo mismo ocurre en el pueblo de El Cairo, en el Valle del Cauca. “La gente no quiere entrar a las casas, la gente no quiere dormir, la gente no sabe qué hacer, porque aparte han anunciado que hay réplicas”, comentó a la AFP Adriana González, una cocinera de 40 años. El sismo deja hasta ahora 216 fallecidos y más de 2.000 heridos. Para encarar el proceso de reconstrucción, el presidente Abelardo de la Espriella, quien asumió el poder hace apenas seis días, declaró situación de emergencia en la zona. Publicidad Durante una visita a Pereira el martes, De la Espriella anunció ayudas para los damnificados, entre ellos subsidios de vivienda. En Roldanillo, una pequeña población del Valle del Cauca, Yuliana Méndez, de 43 años, observa con desconsuelo su tienda de productos cosméticos que quedó destruida. “Nos duele porque es como empezar otra vez de cero. Pero hay que salir adelante, ¿qué más hacemos?”, dijo a la AFP. La Unión Europea anunció el miércoles que desbloqueó dos millones de euros para ayudar a Colombia, y España destinará otro millón de euros. El aporte de España, a través de su agencia de cooperación, servirá para financiar “tanto material de refugio como kits de agua y saneamiento”, indicó el canciller José Manuel Albares. “También se van a enviar medicamentos, y se va a participar en el despliegue de personal sanitario a través de esta financiación”, añadió. Estados Unidos ofreció una ayuda de 15,5 millones de dólares para atender la emergencia. El sismo evoca la tragedia del fuerte terremoto de 1999 que dejó casi 1.200 muertos en la zona cafetera. (I)

Daniela Largo, 32 years old, was found alive among the ruins of a hotel in Pereira, one of the cities hardest hit by the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that shook western Colombia and has left more than 200 people dead. Amid cheers and applause, rescuers pulled Daniela Largo from the hotel debris in downtown Pereira, more than 35 hours after the 7.4-magnitude quake struck western Colombia. The woman remained trapped under the rubble as dozens of rescuers, aided by dogs and volunteers, worked day and night to remove the debris and locate any possible survivors. Wrapped in a blue blanket and placed on a stretcher, Largo was transported to an ambulance for medical attention. Around her, rescuers embraced and celebrated the rescue. “I am happy because when we had looked for her for so long (...) and at the moment when we were losing hope, we received a call,” her mother, Sandra Milena Pérez, 50, told AFP. A neighbor heard Daniela among the rubble. The rescue began after a neighbor participating in the search heard someone calling for help among the building’s debris. The man alerted the rescuers and, since Tuesday afternoon, teams began removing the rubble at the spot where they believed the woman was located. The search continued through the night. Rescuers used flashlights to advance through the building’s debris, while Pereira remained partly in the dark due to electricity outages caused by the earthquake. “I thank you with all my heart because thanks to him we are happy today (...), because a son is waiting for her at home,” Daniela’s mother said. The woman was moved to a hospital, where doctors would assess her health. Daniela’s rescue was not easy after the earthquake in Colombia. Largo was under one of the building’s floors, which trapped her legs. The rescuers had to work crouched and with extreme care to reach her and extract her without triggering another collapse. “Daniela, close your eyes!” the rescuers shouted as they tried to pull her from among the debris. For her mother, the hours of searching were marked by uncertainty and anguish. Earlier in the morning, Pérez had walked around the building with a sign bearing her daughter’s photograph and the caption “wanted.” Daniela’s discovery occurred while teams were still surveying other points in the city in search of missing people. Pereira remains one of the cities most affected. Pereira is one of the localities that suffered the most damage from the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday. Authorities revised the death toll downward and reported 216 deaths, after the Valle del Cauca governorate and the Cali mayor’s office updated their figures. Although Daniela’s rescue renewed hopes of finding more survivors, search operations continued among the collapsed structures. “If anyone hears me, shout or make a noise,” one rescuer urged while asking his companions for silence to try to identify any signal coming from the rubble. Families continue to search for their missing loved ones. In another part of Pereira, Viviana Loaiza continued to wait for news about her brother Pablo, 29, who was trapped under debris from a building that housed a bakery on the ground floor and apartments on the upper levels. “We see them pulling out and pulling out, and they can’t find anything,” said the 39-year-old woman, who sells coffee on the streets. Viviana was near her brother buying bread when the earthquake began. She managed to get out, but Pablo ran into the bakery when the structure collapsed. She also lost her home during the quake. Since then, she has spent the nights in a park with her daughter and aunt, waiting for news about her brother. Daniela Largo’s rescue represents a moment of hope for families still hoping to find their loved ones alive, as emergency teams continue search efforts in the areas most affected by the earthquake.

Colombian rescuers and volunteers saved a 32-year-old woman alive on Tuesday night (the 11th) who was trapped under the rubble of a building that collapsed after the earthquake that hit Colombia on Monday (the 10th). Daniela Largo spent more than 35 hours under the hotel ruins and was removed from the debris on a stretcher, amid shouts and applause from family members and other people present. Emergency teams are searching for more survivors of the quake, the strongest recorded in the country this century. "At the moment we were losing hope, we received a call," Daniela’s mother, Sandra Milena Pérez, told AFP in Pereira. She explained that a neighbor heard cries for help and called volunteers and professional rescuers to try to save Daniela. The earthquake shook several cities in the Colombian coffee region, on the Pacific coast. Although the government of Abelardo de la Espriella, sworn in on Friday (the 7th), has created a unified crisis-management committee, there is no standardized national report with constant updates on the number of dead. News agencies such as Reuters and AFP tally deaths based on statements from local governments, as does the local press — numbers range from 200 to more than 250. The latest report released by Asocapitales, the association of departmental capitals of the country, puts it at 180 dead and 222 missing. On Wednesday, Espriella’s government declared three days of mourning. In Pereira and Cali, families sleep in parks for fear of aftershocks. Entire blocks were reduced to rubble. "With our hands, with gloves, we work. It’s sad to see time passing to find people alive," said Pablo César Ruiz, a volunteer in Cali. Relentless search Beatriz Arcos was trapped for almost an hour under the rubble of her apartment in Cali. A wall collapsed on her; she was treated at the hospital and returned to see what remained of the three-story building where she lived. "It happens so fast you can’t even explain. My husband suffered, my mother injured her legs," Beatriz said, still with a painful back. Sitting in front of the building, she hopes her son can retrieve documents and some belongings. Emergency teams worked with cranes, dogs, and machines, while volunteers formed human chains to remove debris manually. Several hospitals were damaged and many patients were treated on the sidewalk. Public schools did not open. Residents joined firefighters with pickaxes and shovels, digging with their hands among the rubble. At times, rescue teams pause to listen for any sign of life. A simple whistle in response cheers the squads, explained volunteer Andrés Felipe Mejía. That’s how they reached a man and his baby grandson in a collapsed building, although the child’s mother remained trapped, the volunteer said. Located in the tourist Coffee Axis, Pereira was the second most affected city, with 72 deaths by Wednesday morning. Most of its more than 480,000 residents lost access to electricity — spending the night outdoors, afraid of aftershocks or because their homes are too damaged. "It’s like something out of a movie, a bit of a horror story because it’s all dark, but it’s also very beautiful to see how people come together," said Daniel Hernández, 31, a tattoo artist and volunteer. An improvised shelter was set up in a park. In supermarkets, water and food were scarce. "We lost everything, but we are alive," said waiter John Tabasco, 23, beside his wife and their seven-month-old son. "Moments of fear, panic, psychosis," he added. Amid the destruction, many people mobilized to help. Thousands brought water, food, and supplies to affected neighborhoods, while long lines formed at blood donation centers. The earthquake’s epicenter was located near San José del Palmar, in Chocó, a poor region that is hard to access due to damage to the highways. During a visit to Pereira on Tuesday, the country’s president announced aid to those left homeless, including housing subsidies. The quake recalls the tragedy of the strong 1999 earthquake, which left more than 1,100 dead in the Coffee Axis. The earthquake also affected six airports, and two remained closed to commercial flights.

Colombia declares three days of mourning as search for quake survivors continues Colombia on Wednesday declared three days of mourning after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake killed more than 200 people in the west of the country. Monday's quake was the strongest to hit Colombia this century, and the search for survivors under the rubble is ongoing. To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Colombia on Wednesday declared three days of mourning for victims of an earthquake that killed more than 200 people and demolished scores of buildings in the west of the country. At 7.4 magnitude, Monday's quake was the strongest to hit Colombia this century. The government said flags would be lowered to half-staff on official buildings, as well as at Colombian embassies abroad, "in honour of all the dead", who are now numbered at 216. In the cities of Pereira and Cali, emergency crews worked through the night with cranes, dogs and heavy machinery in the hunt for survivors, while volunteers formed human chains to clear debris by hand. There was joy when rescuers pulled out 32-year-old Daniela Largo alive after 35 hours trapped in the rubble of a Pereira hotel. Read moreWoman rescued from rubble two days after Colombia's deadly quake "We were losing hope and then we received a call," her mother Sandra Milena Perez told AFP. Perez said a local resident heard cries for help beneath the rubble and joined neighbours in removing debris before professional rescuers arrived. "I thank him with all my heart because thanks to him today we are happy... a son is waiting for her at home," she said. The first two days after an earthquake are crucial for finding survivors under rubble, with some experts saying that after a 72-hour window, hopes quickly fade. From the air, neighbourhoods in Cali appeared flattened, with piles of grey rubble replacing entire blocks of homes and apartment buildings. Nearby, cars lay crushed beneath fallen walls and concrete slabs. The quake overwhelmed parts of the health system, turning the rescue effort into one of Colombia's largest disaster responses in years. Many survivors spent the night outdoors, either because their homes were damaged or because they feared aftershocks. One park in Pereira was transformed into a makeshift shelter with tents and mattresses. "We lost everything, but we're alive," said 23-year-old John Tabasco, who was camped there with his wife and seven-month-old son. In Cali, part of the Hospital Universitario del Valle collapsed during the quake, forcing doctors to move patients into a parking lot and treat some in the open air. Many Colombians mobilised to help. Thousands brought water, food and supplies to affected neighbourhoods, while long lines formed outside blood donation centres. "It's about wanting to help your community, your city and your country," said blood donor Ferney Cabrera. President Abelardo de la Espriella, who was just sworn in on Friday, declared a state of emergency and promised rent subsidies for affected families Tuesday during a visit to Pereira. The United States announced $15.5 million in emergency aid, while messages of support and offers of assistance arrived from around the world. (FRANCE 24 with AFP)

A two-month-old baby and a woman trapped for 36 hours under the rubble: the miraculous rescues of rescuers in Colombia Rescuers managed to rescue Daniela Andrea Largo Sánchez, 32, alive, who was buried under the rubble of a hotel in Pereira; civilians pulled Salomón from among the debris of a building in Cali - 5 minutes of reading' BOGOTÁ.— After a 36-hour search, rescue teams and the Police succeeded in rescuing Daniela Andrea Largo Sánchez, 32, who had been buried under the rubble of a hotel in Pereira, one of the cities hardest hit by the earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday. “Another woman rescued alive!” proclaimed Bogotá’s mayor on Tuesday night, after the extraction, in a operation in which firefighters from the capital and Pereira, as well as rescue experts from the Police, participated. The woman was found by the rescuers after showing signs of life, and was pulled out through large blocks of concrete, in a manual operation with construction tools, until one of the firefighters took her hand and managed to pull her alive from the rubble. In another miraculous episode, seven civilians rescued a baby from the debris of a five-story building in Cali, another of the cities most affected by the earthquake. Salomón, two months old, was found next to his father, Juan David. Both were taken to a medical facility and are reported to be stable, according to Noticias Caracol. Nevertheless, the baby’s mother and his uncle remain missing. Valentina and Juan Vanegas, aged 39 and 23 respectively, were trapped under the collapsed structure of the Torres del Limonar building, in the south of the city. “There are many people helping, many rescuers, there are firefighters, machines, but I think it’s not enough for the damage,” Juliana Velázquez, Valentina’s cousin, told the Colombian media. She added: “It has been a very, very tortuous, very slow process. We don’t have certainty about where they are. We still know nothing.” According to the witness, she and her brother managed to reach the first floor during the evacuation, so she believes her relatives could be in that area or in the building’s entrance. They also consider the possibility that they may have descended to the underground parking. Nearly 48 hours after the 7.4-magnitude quake that caused destruction in the country’s western cities, emergency teams continue working against the clock with cranes, dogs and machinery to try to save as many lives as possible. Volunteers form human chains to remove debris by hand. Experts consider the critical window to close at 72 hours. According to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities (Asocapitales), so far there have been 190 fatalities, 1,679 injured, 5 capitals on red alert, 3 airports operating under restricted conditions, and 243 structures collapsed in the country. However, local authorities’ calculations suggest the death toll could rise to at least 240 people. More than 36 hours under the rubble “I’m happy because we had looked for her for so long (...) and at the moment we were losing hope, we received a call,” Sandra Milena Pérez, the mother of the woman trapped in Pereira, told AFP. The mother recounted that a neighbor heard the cries for help and alerted the rescuers. “We’re happy (...) because at home a 12-year-old son is waiting for her,” Pérez added. As Noticias Caracol reviewed, rescue teams conducted two excavations to reach the survivor. During the rescue operations, they supplied her with oxygen through a mask and opened an opening on top of the rubble, cutting through four concrete slabs that resting on her. In parallel, they excavated a tunnel from the bottom, through which they ultimately managed to extract her. Once at the scene, the rescuers began “doing something called the ‘calling and listening’: everyone goes quiet. A loud shout is emitted and we ask the trapped person to speak or make a noise. When we indeed hear that sound, we begin to work,” said Luis Fernando, one of the rescuers, in an interview with the Colombian media. There is hope! — Abelardo De La Espriella (@ABDELAESPRIELLA) August 12, 2026 We trust in our rescuers and in the dogs who work tirelessly, day and night, to find our missing brothers and sisters. A few minutes ago, in Pereira, Daniela Andrea Largo Sánchez, 30, was found alive after seven hours… pic.twitter.com/xw1YCdUZIb “The firefighters, who are heroes of the nation, found a 32-year-old woman and we celebrate that they found her alive,” said the newly sworn-in Colombian president, Abelardo de la Espriella. The president recalled that as hours go by, the “time window” to rescue survivors narrows and noted that in Pereira there are more than 40 people registered as missing, warning that there will be no shortage of financial resources or personnel to try to save as many people as possible trapped under the collapsed buildings. “At this moment we have more than 40 missing in Pereira, we continue working, sending all capacities, all the budget, the rescuers, the dogs; we remain firm so that the people in this time window that we have left can be found alive,” De la Espriella warned. The Colombian president, who took office just six days ago, declared a state of emergency in the area. During a visit to Pereira on Tuesday, De la Espriella announced aid for the victims, including housing subsidies. AFP, ANSA agencies and El Tiempo (GDA)

Pereira, Colombia. Socorristas y voluntarios trabajaban sin descanso este miércoles en Colombia en busca de señales de vida entre los escombros, cuando corre el tercer día desde el terremoto que deja más de 200 muertos. El hallazgo de Daniela Largo, de 32 años, extraída entre las ruinas con vida en la noche en medio de aplausos y vítores, insufló ánimos a la desesperada búsqueda de sobrevivientes. “Estoy feliz porque cuando ya la habíamos buscado tanto (...) y en el momento que estábamos perdiendo las esperanzas, recibimos una llamada”, confió a la AFP Sandra Milena Pérez, madre de la mujer que pasó 35 horas atrapada bajo los escombros de un hotel de Pereira. A casi 48 horas del sismo de magnitud 7,4 que causó destrucción en las principales ciudades del oeste de Colombia, equipos de emergencia trabajan con grúas, perros y maquinaria. Los voluntarios forman cadenas humanas para retirar los escombros a mano. Los expertos consideran que la ventana crítica para salvar vidas se cierra a las 72 horas. “Con las manos, con guantes trabajamos en esto (...) Es triste ver que el tiempo se nos está pasando”, para encontrar gente con vida, dijo Pablo César Ruiz, voluntario en Cali. Sobre enormes montañas de escombros, los socorristas y voluntarios alzan los puños y piden silencio para buscar. Vecinos y familiares observan expectantes en las aceras. La madre de la mujer rescatada con vida anoche contó que un vecino de Pereira escuchó los llamados de auxilio y alertó a los rescatistas. “Estamos felices (...) porque en la casa la está esperando un hijo” de 12 años, dijo. A la intemperie En Pereira y Cali, las ciudades más afectadas, las familias han dormido en los parques por el temor a nuevos terremotos. Manzanas enteras quedaron reducidas a escombros. “Perdimos todo pero estamos vivos”, dijo en un parque de Pereira John Tabasco, un mesero de 23 años, junto a su mujer e hijo de siete meses. “Han sido momentos de miedo, pánico, psicosis”, añadió. Lo mismo ocurre en el pueblo del El Cairo, en el Valle del Cauca. “La gente no quiere entrar a las casas, la gente no quiere dormir, la gente no sabe qué hacer, porque aparte han anunciado que hay réplicas”, comentó a la AFP Adriana González, una cocinera de 40 años. El sismo deja hasta ahora 216 fallecidos y más de 2.000 heridos. Para encarar el proceso de reconstrucción, el flamante presidente Abelardo de la Espriella, que asumió el poder hace apenas seis días, declaró situación de emergencia en la zona. Durante una visita a Pereira el martes, De la Espriella anunció ayudas para los damnificados, entre ellos subsidios de vivienda. En Roldanillo, una pequeña población del Valle del Cauca, Yuliana Méndez, de 43 años, observa con desconsuelo su tienda de productos cosméticos que quedó destruida. “Nos duele porque es como empezar otra vez de cero. Pero hay que salir adelante, ¿qué más hacemos?”, dijo a la AFP. La Unión Europea anunció el miércoles que desbloqueó dos millones de euros para ayudar a Colombia, y España destinará otro millón de euros. El aporte de España, a través de su agencia de cooperación, servirá para financiar “tanto material de refugio como kits de agua y saneamiento”, indicó el canciller José Manuel Albares. “También se van a enviar medicamentos, y se va a participar en el despliegue de personal sanitario a través de esta financiación”, añadió. Estados Unidos ofreció una ayuda de 15,5 millones de dólares para atender la emergencia. El sismo evoca la tragedia del fuerte terremoto de 1999 que dejó casi 1.200 muertos en la zona cafetera.

00:24 Baby rescued from rubble after Colombian earthquake 00:0000:00 UP NEXT Baby rescued from rubble after Colombian earthquake 00:24 UP NEXT ICE plans to equip agents with electrical shock gloves 01:09 One killed in Indiana home explosion during major storm 00:18 Los Angeles Lakers to be sold for $12.5 billion 00:19 Crowley speaks to supporters after Wisconsin primary win 00:51 Former marine held by Russia seen arriving in the U.S. 00:41 Wild-caught Tiger released into Kazakh nature reserve 00:31 Report shows inflation rose 0.1% from June to July 00:36 Crowley wins close Wisconsin Democratic governor primary 00:41 Monsoon rains flood Philippine waterways with trash 00:32 Toyota issues recall for certain 2025-26 Camry models 00:19 Crowds gather in Spain for rare total solar eclipse 01:19 Michigan tubers rescued after being stranded for three days 00:52 Larson, Bronin address voters after Conn. primary results 02:02 Dog rescued from storm drain after a month missing 00:15 Peggy Flanagan wins Minnesota Democratic Senate primary 00:37 Norman, Graham advance to S.C. GOP Senate runoff 01:30 Trump: Decoy plane decision was ‘up to the Secret Service’ 00:30 Usher addresses fans' 'clone' rumors during tour 00:16 White Sox give away 'pope hats' celebrating Pope Leo 00:24 Graham and Norman advance to runoff in South Carolina primary 00:26

Earthquake response strains Colombia's new government and rescuers PEREIRA, Colombia — The search for life in the rubble of Colombia's powerful earthquake grew more desperate on Wednesday as search teams pushed up against a key time threshold to locate survivors with signs of life. The devastation has tested Colombia's new President Abelardo de la Espriella and his government as it scrambles to respond to the natural disaster and civil society as it pushes to provide aid to the vulnerable communities most affected by the quake. By Tuesday, de la Espriella said the 7.4 magnitude earthquake had killed at least 181 people and left 2,595 more injured in the west of the country. He said at least 195 remained missing, but civilian-run databases put that number closer to 4,000. Teams continued to pick through the rubble overnight in the hardest-hit cities of Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo, as time ticked away for victims to be found — and rescued — alive. Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours crucial for retrieving survivors, though that threshold can be extended if they have access to food and water. Small successes have broken through the flattened buildings: rescuers pulling a dust-covered baby through a crack in a concrete wall and onlookers cheering as teams lift a woman onto a stretcher. In many areas, the official response to the devastation has been complicated by the ongoing crises of deep poverty and civil warfare that has forced displacement for decades. "This earthquake compounds an already severe humanitarian situation, and there is a need for increased support for the humanitarian response," said Giovanni Rizzo, Colombia director for the Norwegian Refugee Council. A 2016 peace accord between rebels and the government along with an ongoing armed conflict may allow aid organizations to distribute food and other emergency materials more quickly, said María José Torres, the U.N. resident coordinator in Colombia. Aid organizations are already in place in some conflict-torn centers because of the peace process, including Choco at the epicenter of the quake. "We have a presence on the ground. Therefore, our ability to be there, present with the people, I think, has increased exponentially," Torres said in a statement Tuesday. At the same time, aid from other countries and nonprofits abroad continued to roll in. The U.S. has offered over $15 million in aid and Mexico's president said she is prepared to send hundreds of search and health workers, tons of health supplies and other equipment. On Tuesday afternoon, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said his country would send two planes loaded with 100 tons of aid in the coming days. "Our prayers are with the families of the victims, the wounded and all the Colombian people," Bukele wrote on X.

Earthquake in Colombia: Rescue workers pull a woman trapped under debris from a hotel for more than 35 hours Rescue operations continue in the cities most affected by the earthquake in Colombia amid streets filled with glass, chunks of walls, and hanging wires. There are already more than 200 dead. Rescuers pull Daniela Largo from the rubble of a building in Pereira, Colombia, on August 11, 2026. - Photo AFP Share: First responders and Colombian volunteers rescued a 32-year-old woman who remained trapped beneath the rubble of a collapsed building during the Colombia earthquake in the city of Pereira, amid cheers and applause. Meanwhile, exhausted teams continue searching for survivors of the earthquake, the strongest the country has suffered this century. The woman, Daniela Largo, was under the hotel’s ruins for more than 35 hours, until she emerged on a stretcher wrapped in a blue blanket, while rescue teams and relatives shouted with joy. Colombian President Abelardo De la Espriella celebrated the rescue with a post on the social network X, in which he said Largo "was found alive after seven hours of searching. News that fills us with hope and motivates us to keep believing." "We trust our rescuers and the tirelessly working dogs, day and night, to find our missing brothers," De la Espriella said. "We trust in God and in the tireless work of our rescue teams so that more Colombians can be found alive and return to the arms of their families," he added. The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck early Monday morning across several cities in the coffee-growing region and the Colombian Pacific, leaving at least 216 dead, according to latest revised figures. Rescue operations proceed amid streets filled with glass, pieces of walls, and hanging wires. "At the moment we were losing hope, we received a call," said Largo’s mother, Sandra Milena Pérez, in Pereira. Pérez explained that a neighbor heard cries for help beneath the rubble and called volunteers and professional rescuers to try to save her. In Pereira and Cali, the hardest-hit cities, families sleep in parks for fear of aftershocks. Entire blocks were reduced to rubble. "With our hands, with gloves, we are working on this (...) It is sad to see that time is running out" to find people alive, said Pablo César Ruiz, a volunteer in Cali. Relentless search for survivors Beatriz Arcos spent nearly an hour under the rubble of her Cali apartment. A wall fell on her. She was attended to at the hospital and returned to see what remained of the three-story building where she lived. "It happens so fast you can’t even explain (...) My husband suffered, my mother also injured her legs," she said, still in pain in the back. Sitting in front of the building, she hopes her son can retrieve documents and belongings. Emergency crews worked with cranes, dogs, and machinery, while volunteers formed human chains to move debris by hand. Several hospital facilities were damaged and many patients were treated on sidewalks. Public schools are closed. Neighbors joined firefighters with picks and shovels, digging through the debris with their hands. Rescue teams periodically stop to listen for any sign of life. Located in the tourist Eje Cafetero, Pereira is the second hardest-hit city with 72 deaths. "We lost everything but we are alive" Most of the 480,000 residents were left without electricity and with little internet access. On Tuesday they roamed the streets on motorcycles to gauge the magnitude of the disaster. They spend the night outdoors for fear of aftershocks or because their homes are heavily cracked. "It’s like a movie (...) like a horror story because it’s all dark, but it’s also beautiful to see how people come together," said Daniel Hernández, a 31-year-old tattoo artist and volunteer. In a park today an improvised shelter with tents and mattresses has been set up. Water and food are scarce in supermarkets. "We lost everything but we are alive," said John Tabasco, a 23-year-old waiter, standing with his wife and their seven-month-old son. Share:

Reuters Video Up next in Americas (25 videos) - Woman, kitten pulled alive from Colombia quake debris 36 hours in - Puerto Rico residents search for water as drought triggers rationing 02:01 - Survivor pulled from the rubble day after Colombia earthquake 00:51 - 'I'm speechless': Cali resident surveys Colombia earthquake ruins 02:08 - Rescuers search through rubble for Colombia quake survivors 00:47 - Eyewitness video shows quake rocking Colombia Airport 00:31 - How Colombia is responding to its devastating quake 01:34 - Flames line Canadian highway as wildfires rage 00:16 - Colombian earthquake survivor says 'many people' did not escape her building 00:48 - Buildings collapse after powerful quake strikes Colombia 00:21 - People run from falling debris after earthquake hits Colombia 00:54 - British Columbia declares state of emergency, 20,000 flee wildfires 00:28 - Lionel Messi's father Jorge dies at 68 in Argentine clinic 00:33 - Colombia swears in right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella 00:36 - Costa Ricans take to the streets to protest against the government 00:54 - Mexico deploys troops to protect avocado hub as US halts exports 01:58 - Blaze engulfs popular Bolivian market 01:02 - Salmonella-linked jalapenos add to US food safety worries 00:50 - Carney says Ottawa is defending workers after Trump's 'nasty' quip 00:58 - Carney takes a jab at Trump after teleprompter glitch 00:44 - Flooding in southern Chile after storms cause rivers to overflow 00:41 - US unveils charges against five leaders of Mexico's CJNG cartel 01:06 - Cuba's repeated blackouts strain Havana residents 00:43 - Hundreds evacuated as Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupts 00:32 - Investigators work to identify tourists killed in Peru plane crash 00:40 Americas Woman, kitten pulled alive from Colombia quake debris 36 hours in A woman identified as Daniela Largo Sanchez was rescued alive in Pereira on Tuesday (August 11) night after spending 36 hours trapped under the rubble, the Bogota Fire Department reported. Elsewhere in the city, rescue crews also pulled a kitten out of a collapsed building, drawing cheers from the crowds. Up next in Americas (25 videos) - Woman, kitten pulled alive from Colombia quake debris 36 hours in - Puerto Rico residents search for water as drought triggers rationing 02:01 - Survivor pulled from the rubble day after Colombia earthquake 00:51 - 'I'm speechless': Cali resident surveys Colombia earthquake ruins 02:08 - Rescuers search through rubble for Colombia quake survivors 00:47 - Eyewitness video shows quake rocking Colombia Airport 00:31 - How Colombia is responding to its devastating quake 01:34 - Flames line Canadian highway as wildfires rage 00:16 - Colombian earthquake survivor says 'many people' did not escape her building 00:48 - Buildings collapse after powerful quake strikes Colombia 00:21 - People run from falling debris after earthquake hits Colombia 00:54 - British Columbia declares state of emergency, 20,000 flee wildfires 00:28 - Lionel Messi's father Jorge dies at 68 in Argentine clinic 00:33 - Colombia swears in right-wing President Abelardo de la Espriella 00:36 - Costa Ricans take to the streets to protest against the government 00:54 - Mexico deploys troops to protect avocado hub as US halts exports 01:58 - Blaze engulfs popular Bolivian market 01:02 - Salmonella-linked jalapenos add to US food safety worries 00:50 - Carney says Ottawa is defending workers after Trump's 'nasty' quip 00:58 - Carney takes a jab at Trump after teleprompter glitch 00:44 - Flooding in southern Chile after storms cause rivers to overflow 00:41 - US unveils charges against five leaders of Mexico's CJNG cartel 01:06 - Cuba's repeated blackouts strain Havana residents 00:43 - Hundreds evacuated as Guatemala's Fuego volcano erupts 00:32 - Investigators work to identify tourists killed in Peru plane crash 00:40 President Donald Trump's order directing Americans to receive separate measles, mumps and rubella vaccines faces an immediate obstacle: none of the individual shots are licensed in the United States and experts say it could take years before any become available, if they ever do.

- The rescuers extracted, during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday, a survivor from the rubble of a collapsed building in Pereira. - This rescue comes dozens of hours after the earthquake, the deadliest of the century in Colombia, struck on Monday morning, with the toll revised downward to 216 dead. Searches for survivors continue vigorously in western Colombia, where the earthquake, the deadliest of the century in the country, measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale, razed entire blocks of houses on Monday morning. The rescuers extracted, during the night from Tuesday the 11th to Wednesday the 12th of August, a survivor from the rubble of a collapsed building in Pereira. When Daniela Largo, 32, was removed from the ruins and wrapped in a blue blanket, her relatives cried with joy and members of the rescue teams embraced, journalists from AFP observed. "We were losing hope when we received a call," her mother, Sandra Milena Perez, testified. According to her, a bystander heard cries for help under the rubble and gathered neighbors to clear the debris before the professionals arrived. "Thanks to him, today we are happy. (...) At home, her 12-year-old son is waiting for his mother Daniela." All happening so fast Beatriz Arcos, another survivor of the earthquake The previous death toll of 241, according to AFP’s tally based on data provided by various local authorities, was revised downward on Tuesday evening to 216, after the authorities in Cali, a city of 2.2 million inhabitants, revised their count. In Cali, another survivor, Beatriz Arcos, was trapped for nearly an hour under the rubble of her apartment. Once rescued, she was treated but her back continues to cause her pain. Her husband and mother were also injured. "Everything is happening so fast," she told AFP, sitting in front of what remains of the three-story building, where her son tried to recover documents, mobile phones and other valuables. Also read "We request silence to hear the people under the rubble": in Colombia, the difficult search for earthquake victims For many, the search for loved ones is anguishing. "My aunt lived there. She’s under the rubble," said Jorge Gonzalez in front of a collapsed building. "We couldn’t retrieve her because there is a gas leak at the back. (...) As long as they don’t find her body, I don’t intend to leave this place," he explained. The earthquake injured more than 1,600 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings, according to the Association of Colombian Mayors. It was felt as far as Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela, a country hit on June 24 by a double earthquake of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 that left more than 6,300 dead. The cities of Manizales and Quibdó are also among the hardest hit.

Colombian rescue workers are racing to find survivors after the country’s deadliest earthquake this century killed at least 240 people and left at least 3,000 missing. In Cali, one of the worst affected cities, firefighters said they had pulled a 35-year-old man from the wreckage of a collapsed building shortly before 4am on Tuesday – nearly 24 hours after the 7.4 magnitude quake rattled western Colombia. “We have found life under the debris … Every minute counts,” the fire department wrote on X alongside a video of a survivor being rescued from beneath a concrete beam. On Tuesday afternoon there was a sudden burst of applause after a 31-year-old woman named as Diana Troncoso was also rescued by firefighters after a 16-hour effort. “Getting out of there is a miracle,” her father, Álvaro Troncoso Torres, told journalists from local newspaper El País as he stood by the ruined building. Civilians reportedly pulled at least five survivors from a partly collapsed hotel, although elsewhere the bodies of some of the city’s 95 confirmed victims could be seen lying on the street under sheets. Colombia’s president, Abelardo de la Espriella, was sworn into power in Cali only last Friday. On Monday night he was back in his country’s third-largest city, telling reporters that 5,000 homes had been destroyed and 188 people were missing in the surrounding department of Valle del Cauca. “We will get through this together,” Cali’s mayor, Alejandro Eder, told its 2.3 million citizens during a televised meeting with the new president. Eder said emergency responders had rescued 37 people from some of the 40 buildings that had completely collapsed in Cali. De la Espriella, who won power in June by vowing to launch a major crackdown on illegal armed groups, said more than 1,000 troops were being mobilised to avoid public disturbances amid reports of looting. The situation in Pereira, a city 130 miles to Cali’s north, appears similarly dramatic, with at least 53 people reportedly trapped in some of the 58 buildings that collapsed. Eleven people are missing, according to the local newspaper El Diario. On Monday, Pereira’s mayor, Mauricio Salazar, broke down in tears as he described the damage inflicted on his city, where at least 66 deaths have been confirmed. “Pereira is living through a historic and tough situation,” Salazar told reporters, his voice breaking as he explained how local hospitals were struggling to keep up with the influx of patients. The earthquake, which struck at 7.34am on Monday, is Colombia’s deadliest since a 6.2 magnitude temblor devastated parts of the same western coffee growing region in January 1999, killing more than 1,000 people. The natural disaster poses an immediate and severe challenge to De la Espriella, a far-right populist with no experience of politics or governing who took office less than 72 hours before the earthquake. The acting leaders of neighbouring Venezuela were castigated by civilians for what many considered their lethargic and incompetent initial response to the twin earthquakes that struck its north coast on 24 June, killing at least 6,300 people. In the crucial 72 “golden hours” after Venezuela’s earthquakes, survivors said government officials and troops were nowhere to be seen, something widely attributed to years of economic crisis, corruption and the mismanagement of the armed forces, as well as foreign sanctions. Colombia’s earthquake on Monday appears to have caused substantially less damage than Venezuela’s far shallower and more destructive earthquakes. But the official reaction – at least so far – appears to have been far more organised, proactive and transparent than in Venezuela, where civilians were often left to their own devices to dig victims from the rubble. In the hours after Colombia’s earthquake, De la Espriella quickly declared a state of emergency and said he would personally lead the disaster response, making a trip to the department of Chocó, before travelling to Cali. He has sent teams led by various ministers in his recently named cabinet to each of the worst affected places. Government officials have offered regular updates on the situation. De la Espriella is due to fly to Pereira on Tuesday. Experts attribute the two countries’ contrasting responses to their starkly different political realities. Venezuela has suffered more than a decade of authoritarian rule under the recently abducted dictator Nicolás Maduro, during which time the country’s institutions, media and civil society withered and international aid groups and NGOs struggled to operate. Critics have voiced fears over a possible authoritarian tack under Colombia’s recently installed pro-Donald Trump leader. But the country remains a vibrant multiparty democracy with strong institutions and an energetic civil society. Christopher Sabatini, a senior fellow for Latin America at Chatham House, believed those very different systems explained the dramatically different responses to the natural disasters. Sabatini recalled how after June’s twin earthquakes, Maduro’s secretive authoritarian heirs – who have retained power with Trump’s blessing under acting president Delcy Rodríguez – had gone into “a defensive crouch” as citizens were abandoned to their own fate. “They just went quiet,” in the hours after the disaster, he said. In contrast, Sabatini sensed in Colombia “a quick, sharp, public-facing and immediate response” from officials such as Cali’s technocratic mayor, and even the controversial new right-wing president, in what was “an efficient, effective state”. “It shows the democratic DNA of both sides,” Sabatini said of the contrasting earthquake reactions in Colombia and Venezuela. Orlando Pérez, a Latin American politics expert from the University of North Texas at Dallas, also noted major differences in the responses, although he recognised that Venezuela’s disaster was more severe. “Everybody is praising de la Espriella’s quick response – and I’m willing to give him his due. He has reacted in a much more public way and shown leadership in an overt manner. The Colombian military has been deployed in a much more effective and quick [manner] than in Venezuela,” said Pérez, noting how conservative social media influencers were explicitly pushing the comparison between Rodríguez’s sluggish response and the seemingly rapid reaction of her Colombian counterpart. “But things could go south pretty quickly if the initial burst of energy and activity is not followed up with effective reconstruction and recovery and assistance for the … people who have lost their homes and their jobs,” Pérez added. “We have seen in other places where initial responses are positive and then recovery doesn’t come quickly enough, and people get frustrated.”

Colombia earthquake: UN joins national response As earthquake rescue efforts across western Colombia continued on Tuesday, UN agencies said that they stood ready to help “with everything we've got”, in coordination with national authorities. Hundreds have been injured and the country's newly elected president said on Tuesday that more than 180 have died due to Monday’s 7.4 magnitude quake, which flattened homes and buildings in the west of the country and caused landslides. “Nearly 5,000 homes have been damaged and 387 have been destroyed; 61 buildings have collapsed and more than 550 educational institutions, 24 health facilities and more than 350 community centres have [been] affected,” said Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN aid coordination office, OCHA. “Those are official Government figures, we know they are being updated," he added. Redirecting resources The United Nations is redirecting resources, moving pre-positioned emergency supplies and deploying additional staff to areas impacted, said UN Resident Coordinator in Colombia, María José Torres Macho, briefing UN correspondents on Tuesday. The Government has asked the UN to complement the national response, with initial priorities including temporary shelter, health, food security and protection. She said the UN was moving quickly, including by providing emergency kits already stored in country and World Food Programme logistics capacity, that can be used by the wider humanitarian community. Particular attention is being paid to families who have lost their homes, as well as women and children in vulnerable communities. Drawing on lessons from the recent earthquake response in Venezuela, the UN is looking at how to ensure pregnant women and young children are reached from the outset, including through possible mobile units for remote areas. The Resident Coordinator said the speed of the response also reflects the UN’s existing presence in affected regions and close coordination with Colombian institutions. “We were called upon immediately to be part of the response,” she said. Watch her briefing via videolink in full below: Health needs The UN World Health Organization (WHO) cited official Colombian data from late Monday indicating that damage has been reported in 24 health facilities across six departments. Valle del Cauca department experienced the “most significant health infrastructure impacts” and particularly the city of Cali, said WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic. Key facilities affected include Hospital Universitario del Valle, where part of a tower housing cardiology and paediatric services collapsed, and Clinica Nuestra, which was fully evacuated. “Our office in the country in Colombia activated its emergency response and its field teams and teams have been deployed to affected areas, including Cali and Chocó, to support health sector assessment and coordination,” Mr. Jasarevic said, briefing journalist in Geneva. The earthquake struck at around 7:34am local time, with its epicentre near San José del Palmar, in Chocó department, close to Valle del Cauca. The tremor was felt across large parts of Colombia and in neighbouring countries, including Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela. Biggest quake in decades According to the Colombian Geological Service, the quake’s epicentre was at a depth of about 103 kilometres (64 miles), and was the largest seismic event recorded in the country this century. Pereira, a city of around 500,000, lies about 35 miles from the epicentre. As emergency teams search for survivors, the city’s mayor reported 18 dead there late Monday. In Cali, the country’s third largest city, authorities reported multiple landslides with people trapped and requested reinforcements for rescue operations. Damage has also affected transport infrastructure including at six airports closed for inspections: Quibdó, Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura. Popayán airport in Cauca is operating with restrictions owing to an unrelated alert for the possible eruption of the Puracé volcano. The Government has activated emergency coordination centres in Bogotá, Quibdó, Armenia and Cali, while authorities continue rescue operations and assessments. Evacuation orders were issued as far away as the capital, Bogotá, which is 250 miles east of San José del Palmar. The UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is monitoring the situation and coordinating with partners and national authorities to assess needs and support affected children and adolescents, while the UN Development Programme (UNDP) is working with government institutions to help analyse damage and needs. Miroslav Jenča, the head of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, expressed solidarity with victims and affected communities, particularly in Chocó, Eje Cafetero and Valle del Cauca, and said the Mission was available to support the authorities’ response.

International aid is intensifying as Colombia strives to save lives after the earthquake. International aid is being mobilized in Colombia as rescue teams race against the clock to find survivors after a powerful magnitude 7.4 quake that has killed at least 254 people. Hanoi News • 08/12/2026 International aid has been mobilized. On August 12, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced that the European Union (EU) was allocating 2 million euros, or about 2.3 million U.S. dollars, to support the hardest-hit communities. “As rescue and search operations continue, the EU is fully supporting Colombia. We are allocating 2 million euros to support communities in the most affected areas,” von der Leyen said. The United States has pledged more than 15 million dollars in aid to Colombia. Mexico has said it is ready to send hundreds of rescuers and medical personnel, as well as supplies and equipment, to this South American country, while El Salvador plans to dispatch two aircraft carrying a total of 100 tons of humanitarian aid. China, Ecuador, and Peru are also among the countries that have offered or deployed assistance. The United Nations has had an active humanitarian network for years in regions such as Chocó, facilitating access to aid for isolated communities. You may also like These commitments were made at a particularly critical moment for the rescue operations. Rescue teams enter the 48-to-72-hour window following the disaster, during which the chances of finding survivors under the rubble diminish. The race to find survivors The earthquake struck on the morning of August 10, with its epicenter near San José del Palmar in the Chocó province. According to data compiled by Reuters from local sources, at least 254 people have died, including 101 in Pereira and 95 in Cali. This figure is higher than the Colombian government’s official statistics. President Abelardo de la Espriella said that at least 181 people had been killed, 2,595 injured, and 195 missing. According to certain civil databases, about 4,000 people are still missing. This figure does not correspond to the number of confirmed missing persons but suggests that the number of victims could rise as information from isolated areas is updated. Rescue teams continue their search for survivors. In Pereira, a woman was rescued from the debris, and a baby was also saved from a space between concrete blocks. You may also like However, more than 100 aftershocks and blocked roads hinder rescue and relief operations as well as the delivery of humanitarian aid. Some communities in Chocó and other remote areas remain difficult to access, lengthening the assessment timelines for damages and needs. In the coming hours, rescue efforts will continue to focus on areas where people are likely still trapped, while international aid will be delivered to the hardest-hit communities.

Earthquake in Colombia: three days of mourning and a race against the clock A three-day mourning period was declared on Wednesday in Colombia, as an “homage” to the victims of the century’s deadliest earthquake, which struck the country on Monday. It has left at least 216 dead and more than 2,000 injured, according to the latest official toll. The national flag will be flown at half-mast on Colombian public buildings, as well as in embassies and consular offices abroad, “in tribute to all the people who have died,” according to a government decree. Critical 72-hour window Searches for survivors continue with determination, aided by construction machinery and dogs, as the 7.4-magnitude earthquake leveled entire blocks of buildings. With an epicenter in the poor Chocó department on the Pacific coast, the earthquake affected several cities, including Cali, the country’s third-largest city with 2.2 million inhabitants. According to experts, the critical window for finding survivors is 72 hours. From Tuesday night to Wednesday, rescuers managed to extract a survivor from the rubble of a collapsed building in Pereira, 35 hours after the disaster, which particularly affected the country’s western region, including this city in the coffee region. When Daniela Largo, 32, was pulled from the debris and wrapped in a blue blanket, her relatives cried out in joy and rescuers hugged, according to AFP journalists. She said a resident heard calls for help and gathered neighbors to clear debris before the arrival of rescue teams. “Thanks to him, today we are happy (...) At home, her son (12) is waiting for her.” The cities of Manizales in the coffee region and Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, are also among the hardest hit. Entire families are sleeping in public parks for fear of aftershocks. In Cali, another survivor, Beatriz Arcos, became trapped for nearly an hour under the rubble of her building. Once rescued, she was treated, but her back still causes her pain. Her husband and mother were also injured. “Everything is happening so quickly,” she told AFP, sitting in front of what remains of the three-story building, where her son tried to retrieve documents, cell phones, and other important items. Residents armed with pickaxes, shovels, and their bare hands are aiding the rescue efforts. Others are distributing food or giving blood. Clearing debris, “we do it by hand, with gloves,” said Pablo Cesar Ruiz, a volunteer. “We are working together in the hope of saving a life,” another, Javier Muñoz, shared. Several hospitals in Cali have been damaged. A portion of the University Hospital of Valle collapsed, forcing doctors to transfer patients and treat others in the adjacent gardens. In Pereira, most of the 480,000 residents were left without electricity. “We have lost everything, but we are alive,” summed up Johan Tabasco, 23, a refugee in a city park with his partner and their seven-month-old son. For many, searching for loved ones is distressing. “My aunt lived there. She is under the rubble,” Jorge Gonzalez lamented in front of a collapsed building. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, in office since August 7, declared a state of emergency in the area and announced subsidies to help resettle those affected during a visit Tuesday to Pereira, already struck by a 1999 earthquake that left nearly 1,200 dead. Several countries mobilized The United States, ally of the new Colombian government, offered $15.5 million in aid. The European Union, which mobilized its Copernicus satellite service to facilitate relief, unlocked €2 million in aid and “offers its support to Colombia wherever possible,” said Wednesday Ursula von der Leyen, president of the EU Commission. Switzerland provided emergency aid of CHF 1 million. It will be used to buy food, set up temporary housing, and supply water. However, the Confederation will not, on the other hand, dispatch a team from the Swiss Rescue Chain with dogs to Colombia, said Deputy Ambassador Fabian Hayoz on German-language SRF radio. The earthquake was felt as far away as Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela, the latter itself struck on June 24 by a double earthquake of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 that left more than 6,300 dead (mb/ats).

Skip to content Ad CALI, Colombia (CNN) – Rescuers in Colombia pulled a baby from the rubble of an apartment building following Monday’s earthquake. The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, killing more than 200 people, according to reports from officials. One of the rescuers said he was a block and a half away when he heard the building collapse. He ran to the site and called out for survivors. That’s when the rescuer heard a man say he was under the rubble with a baby. Several people helped sift through the debris. Once the baby was located, the child was handed off to first responders. _Copyright 2026 CNN Newsource. All rights reserved._ Most Read [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/27/florida-amber-alert-issued-missing-13-year-old-marion-county/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/27/florida-amber-alert-issued-missing-13-year-old-marion-county/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/20/5-dead-after-several-attempted-rescue-struggling-swimmer-river-authorities-say/) 5 dead after several attempted to rescue struggling swimmer in river, authorities say [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/31/ocala-man-indicted-murder-charge-infant-death/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/31/ocala-man-indicted-murder-charge-infant-death/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/31/autopsy-results-nolan-wells-now-complete-officials-say/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/31/autopsy-results-nolan-wells-now-complete-officials-say/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/22/columbia-county-deputies-investigating-public-suicide-attempt-lake-city-restaurant/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/22/columbia-county-deputies-investigating-public-suicide-attempt-lake-city-restaurant/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/19/11-foot-gator-shuts-down-i-75-near-gainesville/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/19/11-foot-gator-shuts-down-i-75-near-gainesville/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/14/deputy-us-marshal-shot-killed-while-serving-arrest-warrant-fugitive/) Deputy US Marshal shot and killed while serving arrest warrant to fugitive [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/17/husband-wife-35-years-killed-when-tree-falls-car-during-storms/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/07/17/husband-wife-35-years-killed-when-tree-falls-car-during-storms/) Latest News [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/08/12/woman-charged-after-6-year-old-jumps-out-apartment-window-tests-positive-cocaine/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/08/12/woman-charged-after-6-year-old-jumps-out-apartment-window-tests-positive-cocaine/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/08/12/newberry-high-school-football-coach-also-serves-concession-stand-chef/) Newberry High School football coach serves unique dishes at the concession stand [](https://www.wcjb.com/video/2026/08/12/video-captures-rescue-river-tubing-group-stranded-3-days-living-off-bark-flowers/) Video captures rescue of river tubing group stranded for 3 days, living off bark and flowers [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/08/12/man-killed-his-partner-child-minnesota-daycare-before-taking-his-own-life-police-say/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/08/12/man-killed-his-partner-child-minnesota-daycare-before-taking-his-own-life-police-say/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/08/12/chick-fil-a-adds-new-flavors-its-fall-lineup-including-sandwich-available-all-day-long/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/08/12/chick-fil-a-adds-new-flavors-its-fall-lineup-including-sandwich-available-all-day-long/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/08/12/store-brands-roof-racks-simple-habits-can-lead-significant-savings-over-time/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/08/12/store-brands-roof-racks-simple-habits-can-lead-significant-savings-over-time/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/video/2026/08/12/employee-training-killed-ocala-food-mart-suspect-arrested/) Employee in training killed at Ocala Food Mart; suspect arrested [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/08/12/inflation-cooled-last-month-gas-prices-fell-though-costs-remain-elevated/) [](https://www.wcjb.com/2026/08/12/inflation-cooled-last-month-gas-prices-fell-though-costs-remain-elevated/)

By Nelson Bocanegra PEREIRA, Colombia, Aug 12 (Reuters) – When Julio Cesar Largo’s daughter failed to show up for her son’s birthday celebration, his worst fears took hold. On the same day, a powerful earthquake had ripped through a large part of Colombia. The 7.4-magnitude quake struck on Monday, the strongest the South American country has seen in decades. At least 250 people have been killed, with many more injured or still missing. Largo hoped his daughter, 32-year-old Daniela, had simply been delayed on the bus ride home to Riosucio, a town in Caldas province in western Colombia. But as the hours dragged on and her phone stayed silent, dread gave way to certainty. “I knew something had happened to her,” the woman’s father said. “One way or another, she would have contacted the family. And she wasn’t answering her phone.” He spoke outside the collapsed budget lodging house in downtown Pereira where his daughter had been buried under debris. The building stood on the same street as the furniture store where she worked. Largo and his wife began searching for the missing woman with a poster bearing her photograph. People who saw it told them they had seen Daniela on the morning of the earthquake. “We came looking for her when she didn’t arrive at our house, on the very day her son was turning 12,” he told Reuters. “We were all supposed to go to a shopping mall in Manizales to celebrate together.” Instead, Daniela spent nearly 38 hours trapped beneath slabs of concrete after the four-story building she was in pancaked to the ground. Rescuers found her almost by accident while searching for another man who, as of Wednesday morning, was still believed to be under the rubble. Freeing her took 10 grueling hours. Dozens of rescue specialists and around 50 volunteers worked to reach Daniela, whose arm was pinned by a metal door. When she finally emerged alive on a stretcher and was lifted into an ambulance headed to San Jorge Hospital, the crowd around the site erupted in cheers and applause. For her father, the moment was almost beyond words. “It is devastating that my daughter had to go through this,” he said through tears. “But the joy that she survived is overwhelming. For me, it feels like the day she was born all over again. And now she has the chance to keep raising my grandson.” (Reporting by Nelson Bocanegra; Writing by Kylie Madry; Editing by Paul Simao)