Brother of man trapped under rubble in Colombian quake clings on to hope

Family Clings to Hope as Rescue Efforts Continue in Colombian Earthquake

Ninoda.com – At the disaster site, workers and volunteers raise their hands in the air—a gesture signaling silence so survivors can be heard. Efraín Gallego refuses to abandon faith that his brother will emerge alive, though speaking about him while trapped beneath collapsed concrete causes his voice to falter. He swallows hard, fighting to maintain composure.

“You feel anguish. Every time there is an alert about someone being alive, hope is reborn that we will find him,” Gallego tells me emotionally.

His eighty-year-old sibling was buried alongside his wife when the Torres del Limonar building crumbled in Cali. This southwestern Colombian city ranks among the hardest-hit areas following the devastating tremor. The structure has emerged as a symbol of tragedy within the nation’s third-largest urban center, home to over two million residents.

Rescue Operations Underway

Mayor Alejandro Éder confirmed at least ninety-five fatalities. Beneath Tuesday morning’s intense heat, Torres del Limonar resembles a broken mountain of debris, with mattresses, furniture, and personal items protruding from the concrete. Rescuers and volunteers occupy the summit of the wreckage.

“Silence! We are firefighters. If you can hear us, shout or make any noise.”

This announcement repeats whenever teams dig deeply enough to suspect a survivor lies nearby. These are precisely the moments when Gallego’s hope surges, yet seconds tick by without responses from below.

Torres del Limonar stands as one of more than fifty collapsed structures throughout Cali. Situated in the Capri neighborhood to the city’s south, the four-story edifice contained dozens of apartments. Authorities have not confirmed the exact number of tenants present when the collapse occurred.

Community Response and Ongoing Search

While some surrounding buildings show only minor cracks, the Torres building suffered catastrophic damage. Rescuers, military personnel, volunteers, paramedics, firefighters, humanitarian workers, and journalists have converged on the scene. More than one hundred individuals await updates.

According to Mayor Éder, approximately twenty-five people remained trapped beneath the rubble as of Monday evening. A nighttime curfew was declared to accelerate rescue operations. Excavations continued through the night, with one site rescuer reporting that roughly ten individuals had been extracted since the initial collapse.

“What I can tell you is that right now there are at least two people detected alive. Tunnels are being made to get them out. One of them has to have his leg freed,” rescuer James Velasco tells me.

Local media outlets like Blu Pacífico radio reported six survivors just minutes before my arrival, including a baby only a few months old. These figures remain closer to estimates than definitive counts amid the chaos.

A City in Mourning

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday, August 10, represents the worst seismic event of this century according to the National Geological Service. Beyond Cali, destruction and loss of life extended to regions including Chocó in the northwest.

Unlike Gallego, many residents near the collapsed building remain silent. They appear visibly shaken. Some rest exhausted on the pavement or on a sofa positioned in the street. Others cluster together beneath shade for mutual support. Hours stretch longer, and anguish intensifies.

Velasco offers reassurance. “In the past I have participated in operations where we have pulled out survivors after seven days trapped.” He adds, “Those who are meant to survive, survive. Nothing is written.”

Gallego wishes to recognize the contributions of everyday citizens. “We must mention all the people who have come to help with water, supplies, tools, equipment; there is a lot of collaboration. Volunteers are plentiful,” he says.

Alejandro Mahecha, nineteen years old, represents one such volunteer. After spending the night safely with family and processing the initial shock, he decided to assist. “I wanted to help from the very beginning. The earthquake affected my city and the homes of people I know. I came to this site because there has been a lot of talk about this building and the need for help here,” the young man explains.

Together with friends, Mahecha helps remove debris, delivers water to rescuers, and clears the street to facilitate operations.