- The 7.4-magnitude quake struck at 07:34 local time on Monday, with its epicentre near San José del Palmar, and was followed by more than 100 aftershocks.
- The quake killed at least 188 people, with 79 deaths in Pereira and 95 in Cali, according to Asocapitales.
- In Pereira, at least 92 buildings collapsed, with 15 people trapped and 37 missing; in Cali, more than 200 people remained trapped as of Tuesday afternoon.
- Daniela Largo, 32, was rescued alive after being trapped under rubble for 36 hours, pulled from a collapsed building in Pereira after a 10-hour rescue operation.
- Firefighters dug two tunnels—one for oxygen, one to free her—and located her with a small camera after a resident heard her cry for help.
- Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella celebrated her rescue on social media, calling it 'news which fills us with hope'.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, causing widespread devastation and claiming at least 188 lives. The quake's epicenter was near San José del Palmar in Chocó province, but its effects were felt across a vast area, leading to significant destruction in cities like Pereira and Cali.123
In Pereira, 79 fatalities have been confirmed, while Cali reported 95 deaths. The disaster has left hundreds missing, with 15 people trapped and another 37 reported missing in Pereira alone, according to the Association of Colombian Capital Cities (Asocapitales).45678
Rescue efforts have been intense, highlighted by the dramatic rescue of 32-year-old Daniela Largo, who was pulled alive from the rubble after being trapped for 36 hours. Firefighters, aided by national police, dug two tunnels to reach her, providing oxygen through one before freeing her through another. Her mother reported that a local resident heard her cries for help.910
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella celebrated Largo's rescue on social media, calling it "news which fills us with hope." The quake has triggered over 100 aftershocks, complicating rescue operations and raising concerns about further collapses.14
As rescue teams continue their search, the nation mourns the loss of life and grapples with the aftermath of this devastating natural disaster.
“The rescue in Pereira involved firefighters digging two tunnels—one to supply oxygen and another to free Largo—after a resident heard her cries. At least 92 buildings collapsed in Pereira, with 15 trapped and 37 missing, while over 200 remained trapped in Cali as of Tuesday afternoon.”
BBC
