- Earthquake strikes Colombia, causing major damage in Cali, which has more than two million inhabitants.
- The Torres del Limonar building collapsed in Cali's Capri neighborhood, becoming a symbol of the tragedy.
- Rescuers and volunteers are actively searching for survivors, with at least two people detected alive.
- Efraín Gallego waits in anguish for his 80-year-old brother, who was buried with his wife when the building collapsed.
- Gallego expresses the emotional anguish of waiting: "You feel anguish. Every time there is an alert about someone being alive, hope is reborn that we will find him."
- Rescuers call for silence during the search: "Silence! We are firefighters. If you can hear us, shout or make any noise."
- The Torres del Limonar building, located in the Capri neighbourhood in the south of Cali, has become a symbol of the tragedy in Colombia's third most populous city.
- James Velasco, a rescuer, reports that tunnels are being made to extract the survivors, offering hope based on past experiences.
- Alejandro Mahecha, a 19-year-old volunteer, came to help after the earthquake affected his city and the homes of people he knows.
Rescue operations in Cali, Colombia, are ongoing following a devastating magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck on August 10, leaving at least 95 dead and many trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings, particularly the Torres del Limonar.127
Efraín Gallego, whose 80-year-old brother is among the missing, expressed his anguish, stating, "You feel anguish. Every time there is an alert about someone being alive, hope is reborn that we will find him." The building collapse has become a symbol of the tragedy in Cali, a city with over two million inhabitants.45
As of Monday night, Mayor Alejandro Éder reported that approximately 25 people remain trapped under the rubble. Rescuers and volunteers are tirelessly searching for survivors, often calling out, "Silence! We are firefighters. If you can hear us, shout or make any noise."6
Rescuer James Velasco noted, "What I can tell you is that right now there are at least two people detected alive. Tunnels are being made to get them out. One of them has to have his leg freed." Velasco has previously participated in rescues where survivors were found after being trapped for up to seven days.38
Among the volunteers is 19-year-old Alejandro Mahecha, who said, "I wanted to help from the very beginning. The earthquake affected my city and the homes of people I know." The community's resilience and hope continue to shine through the despair as search efforts persist.9
“Rescuer James Velasco reports at least two people detected alive, with tunnels being dug to free them, and recalls past rescues after seven days trapped. Volunteer Alejandro Mahecha, 19, joined the effort, saying the earthquake affected his city and homes of people he knows.”
BBC
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