A 32-year-old woman, identified as Daniela Largo, has been rescued alive after 36 hours following the devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday, October 16, 2023. The quake, which shook the region’s coffee-growing areas, resulted in at least 188 deaths and hundreds of missing individuals, according to official figures from the Association of Colombian Capital Cities (Asocapitales). The rescue operation, spearheaded by firefighters and the national police force, began at 10 hours after the initial earthquake and involved a complex series of tunnels dug beneath collapsed buildings in the city of Pereira, in Colombia’s Chocó province. Initial efforts focused on locating Largo, who had been trapped under rubble for 36 hours after the quake, following a 10-hour rescue operation. Firefighters finally managed to reach her via a tunnel they dug below four concrete slabs under which she had been buried, a crucial step in the rescue process. The tunnel was constructed through a process of digging two tunnels, one from above and one from below, to facilitate her extraction. At least 188 people have died in the quake, a figure significantly higher than in Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, where 95 people are confirmed to have perished. 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, speaking to AFP news agency, expressed gratitude for the rescue, stating that her 12-year-old son is waiting for her, and that a local resident had heard her daughter cry out for help from beneath the rubble. The rescue operation was complicated by the fact that four heavy concrete slabs blocked the way, hindering the progress of the team. Local firefighters, aided by colleagues from Bogotá, deployed from the capital, played a vital role in reaching Largo. Through one opening, dug from above, they were able to provide her with oxygen, but a second tunnel, dug from below, was essential for her liberation. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella celebrated her rescue on social media, describing it as ‘news which fills us with hope’ and highlighting the significant progress made in rescuing individuals. Largo’s mother said that at home, her 12-year-old son is waiting for her, emphasizing the urgent need to continue the search for other survivors. In Pereira, at least 92 buildings collapsed, and fifteen people are known to be trapped and another 37 have been reported missing, according to Asocapitales. The city’s mayor declared a night-time curfew and ordered soldiers to patrol the worst-hit areas, a precautionary measure following the quake. The earthquake, which struck at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT) on Monday, was a 7.4-magnitude quake centered near the village of San José del Palmar in Chocó province, but could be felt across a vast area. Seismometers near the epicenter registered shaking lasting between 90 seconds and two minutes. There have been more than 100 aftershocks since. The rescue operation, which began at 10 hours after the initial quake, involved a significant number of personnel and equipment, and the Colombian military and rescue teams worked tirelessly to reach the area. The team has already rescued eight individuals and is continuing to dig through the rubble to locate additional survivors. Eighty-seven people have been rescued in the city so far, and the search continues, with officials emphasizing the need for continued efforts to locate all those who remain trapped. The ongoing efforts are hampered by the complex nature of the debris field and the challenges of navigating through collapsed buildings, but the rescue team remains committed to fulfilling its mission.
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Source: BBC News
