Life Saved: Colombian Woman Emerges from Rubble After 36‑Hour Rescue

Sun Sep 06 2026 02:49:32 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

A 32‑year‑old woman is rescued alive from a collapsed building in Pereira after a powerful 7.4‑magnitude quake that left 188 dead.

Following a devastating 7.4‑magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia, a 32‑year‑old woman named Daniela Largo was pulled alive from beneath rubble in Pereira after 36 hours. Rescue teams dug tunnels from above and below to reach her, providing oxygen through one shaft and freeing her with a second. The quake caused widespread damage, with 188 deaths reported, dozens of buildings collapsed and many still missing. President Abelardo de la Espriella hailed the rescue as a beacon of hope amid the disaster.

Life Saved: Colombian Woman Emerges from Rubble After 36‑Hour Rescue

A 32‑year‑old woman, Daniela Largo, was pulled alive from a collapsed building in the coffee‑region city of Pereira after a 7.4‑magnitude earthquake shook western Colombia. The rescue team worked for ten hours, digging two tunnels under the rubble to reach her, and provided oxygen to keep her alive while freeing her from under four heavy concrete slabs.

Rescue workers carrying Daniela Largo to an ambulance after the earthquake — Rescue workers carry Daniela Largo to an ambulance after freeing her from beneath the rubble.

The quake struck at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT) on Monday, producing intense shaking that lasted between 90 seconds and two minutes. Its epicentre lay near San José del Palmar in Chocó province. At least 188 people have died nationwide, with 79 confirmed deaths in Pereira and 95 in Cali, the third‑most populous city.

Officials say 92 buildings collapsed in Pereira and 15 people are still trapped. In Cali, more than 200 people remain trapped and eighty‑seven have been rescued so far. Mayor Claudia Ruth Vargas has declared a night‑time curfew and deployed soldiers to patrol the worst‑hit areas, hoping to secure safe rescue conditions.

Lieutenant General Abelardo de la Espriella praised the rescue on social media, describing it as “a news … that fills us with hope”. Families in Pereira say Daniela’s 12‑year‑old son is waiting for her at home.

Map of intensity of shaking from the 7.4‑magnitude earthquake in western Colombia — Map showing the intensity of shaking, with dark‑red areas near the epicentre and red zones in surrounding cities.

Following the main shock, the region has experienced more than 100 aftershocks. Rescue operations continue as authorities search for survivors and rebuild infrastructure damaged by the tremors.