A couple embraced under rubble and hours of rescue efforts in one of the cities hardest hit by the earthquake In the ruins of what was until Monday morning at 7:35 a.m. a central hotel in Pereira, cries of pain began to echo. One hour after the powerful tremor that has left at least 240 dead in Colombia, several relatives and volunteers tried to get a response from within one of the mountains of debris scattered throughout the city. They called for two names: Alejandra and Valentina. At first, both responded. Hours later, Valentina stopped responding. Alejandra and Valentina were trapped beneath the pillars of the building when the strong quake of magnitude 7.4 collapsed the roof over the room they were sleeping in. According to three members of the rescue operation cited by elDiario.es, the women were holding each other. For 12 hours, rescue teams composed of firefighters, nurses, volunteers, military personnel, and family members of the victims spoke with Alejandra, who remained conscious throughout and assisted in her own rescue efforts. According to a partial tally from the Colombian Association of Capital Cities (Asocapitales), Cali is the city with the highest number of fatalities, 85. It is followed by the town of Pereira, the capital of the department of Risaralda and one of the cities closest to San José del Palmar (Chocó), the epicenter of the earthquake, with more than 70 deaths. Rescue operations such as these have been ongoing throughout the day on Monday in different parts of the city of Pereira, the heart of Colombia’s coffee region, where professionals and volunteers continue working through dozens of collapsed buildings caused by the earthquake. Neighbors bring water to rescuers, form human chains to remove debris from homes and assist firefighters, and use megaphones to alert them to needs in each rescue. During the night, some approach with their motorcycles to light up the rescue operations with their headlights or warn firefighters of possible signs of life coming from the depths of the ruined structures. Carolina Ocampo is one of the specialized firefighters trained in nursing who spent hours alongside Alejandra and Valentina trying to save their lives. “They are embracing. They are facing each other and are holding on tightly,” explained the nurse who had to crawl through the debris to stabilize the survivor, whose left leg was trapped under the remnants. Every time the rescuers ascended from the place where Ángel found his sister, the young Colombian tried to obtain information about the condition of Valentina. “We know that Alejandra is alive, but nobody mentions Valentina. First, we were told she responded, but now nobody says anything…”, he said hours before confirming his relative's death. His older sister had told him she would sleep in Pereira but would stop by the family home to pick up her work uniform. “She didn’t arrive and I went to look for her in the hotels where she usually stayed. I came here first and, upon seeing it like this, I knew they were inside.” The brother began searching for any sign among the wreckage. Among the debris, he found Valentina’s jacket. Next to it was also her backpack and her mobile phone. He also located personal belongings belonging to Alejandra. “We started calling them and Alejandra answered. And the firefighters began working in this area.” “It has been somewhat difficult because one of her limbs was very trapped with blocks of the house. We have been administering fluids, oxygen, injecting medication into a vein, taking her vital signs... everything done in a hospital, but here, under that amount of debris. She speaks, cooperates, says her leg hurts and not to touch it, but we have had to perform work with heavy machinery. She has been very brave, has endured and at all times has responded,” explains Ocampo to this medium. The administration of oxygen has been very complex. It has been difficult because A woman who had been rescued after 36 hours under the rubble in Colombia has died A woman who had been rescued after 36 hours under the rubble in Colombia has died From tragedy to miracle in Colombia’s earthquake: several children die and a baby survives with his mother The search continues for survivors amidst the rubble Search and rescue operations continue in Colombia following the 7.4 earthquake that devastated much of the country. As happened in Venezuela, every minute counts, but hope remains for finding survivors alive. There are heartbreaking stories. Like that of the small Mateo, who died at just six years old and who turned out to be the son of the mayor of the municipality of Bahía Solano, in the department of Chocó. Leonel Valencia not only has to deal with managing a natural disaster, but also with the loss of a loved one. The child died as a result of the collapse of the building in which he was located, according to EFE. He is not the only child who died on Monday. According to reports from El Tiempo in Colombia, in the municipality of Calima-El Darién (north of Cali), four children died. In this area, “several houses, buildings, the main church, and two schools in the zone collapsed,” reports this newspaper. Amidst the despair, life always finds a way. This has happened in Cali, as narrated by El Heraldo, where emergency teams rescued a six-month-old baby alive. Beneath the tons of rubble was also his mother, who protected her child with her own body. The magazine Semana in Colombia also reported a glimmer of hope. The mayor of Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Gálvez, described the rescue of a man: “This early morning, around 3:57 a.m., they managed to rescue a 35-year-old man from the rubble. Carlos Esteban Rebolledo, the patient rescued, has some minor injuries and is receiving the appropriate attention, but he is out of danger.” While the work of the rescuers continues, hospitals are overflowing and curfews have been imposed. As in other catastrophes, it is difficult to determine the number of missing persons. According to a report issued this Tuesday by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, there are 164 Spanish nationals missing. Rescue operations in the city of Pereira Rescue operations in the city of Pereira Rescue operations in the city of Pereira The earthquake in Colombia leaves at least 181 dead while searches for survivors continue against the clock Colombia declares a state of emergency after the earthquake that leaves 132 dead while searching for survivors continues Colombia holds its breath 72 hours after the earthquake: “It hurts to hear a voice under the rubble and not reach in time” A voice orders silence through a megaphone. Its directive is repeated and, as in a domino effect, reaches the ears of everyone surrounding one of the searches for survivors spread out across the city of Pereira. The rescuers put down their shovels, the crane turns off its engine, the motorcycles slow down their journey, Claudia stops informing her neighbors that there are sandwiches for anyone who wants them, María handles the distribution of water and Eduard puts down a bucket filled with rubble. They begin to raise their arms, stretched out, with clenched fists. The whirlwind and noise transform into absolute silence. They try to listen to the voice of Tuto. A rescuer breaks the silence and directs his gaze toward the ruins where they have been working for days. “This is the rescue team speaking. If there is someone alive, make a signal. Shout, make some noise, form a commotion.” Silence returns, even more intense, and transforms into collective listening. The rescuers, volunteers and residents witnessing the scene strive to perceive a response, to hear a knock, a cry, a word that gives them hope to keep the life of those buried under the rubble alive. Suddenly, the operators closest to the place where they think Tuto is buried under the rubble break the calm. Their hands release the tension of their clenched fists and start clapping. “There is life!” announces the megaphone. The residents embrace, become emotional, clap. A minute later, the rescue work resumes with even greater urgency. “Give it to him, give it to him! Keep working!” This scene, repeated during the first two days after the Colombia earthquake, which has already resulted in 239 confirmed deaths according to official counts, occurs less frequently as the hours pass. The probability of a response, that some of the dozens of people estimated to still be under the collapsed buildings of the city of Pereira, one of the most affected areas, decreases. But there is a limit in mind for each rescuer and volunteer: the 72 hours after the earthquake. Beyond that period, the chances of maintaining life among the rubble are minimal, according to Colombia’s rescue teams. On the third day after the earthquake, having surpassed the 48-hour mark, everyone has that limit in mind. The time is running out and the urgency is felt in the home of one of the points where there is still hope for life under the ruins of Pereira. Ojeroso and almost without having slept in the past two days, Jorge says he can't stop. He has just lost his aunt, has picked up her body under the walls of what was his home, but hasn't passed by the bed. “I want to help my neighbors and collect all the things of
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