Colombia earthquake: A whisper from rubble led to baby’s rescue

Woman pulled alive from debris 36 hours

A faint whisper from beneath the rubble of a collapsed five-storey building in Cali led to the rescue of a baby and a man after Colombia’s 7.4-earthquake. 

Brian Osorio Zuluaga was searching for survivors when he heard a man say, “I’m here. I’m with a baby.” Osorio and others began clearing debris by hand but encountered a heavy concrete slab. Working together, they lifted it and reached the infant, who appeared unable to breathe.

As rescuers removed the rubble, the baby began breathing and his colour returned. Osorio handed the boy to a police officer, who took him to an ambulance. Rescuers then worked to free the trapped man.

Woman survives

A 32-year-old woman was rescued alive after spending 36 hours trapped under rubble.

Daniela Largo was pulled from a collapsed building in Pereira after a 10-hour rescue operation. Firefighters reach­ed her by digging beneath four concrete slabs after a resident heard her cries for help. Rescuers located Largo using a small camera and supplied her with oxygen thro­ugh an opening before freeing her through a second tunnel. At least 79 people were killed in Pereira, while 95 died in Cali. At least 92 buildings collapsed in Pereira, with 15 people trapped and 37 reported missing.