Bogotá Firefighters Free 31-Year-Old Woman From 20 Feet of Cali Quake Rubble
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 12
Bogotá Firefighters Free 31-Year-Old Woman From 20 Feet of Cali Quake Rubble
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 12
Summary
Diana Marcela Troncoso, a 31-year-old biomedical engineer, was pulled alive from collapsed debris in Cali after firefighters reached her through a narrow tunnel.
More than 200 people were still feared trapped alive in the city, and rescuers kept searching as the first 48 hours after the earthquake were seen as critical.
Bogotá firefighters worked in heat above 94 degrees Fahrenheit, carrying electrolyte drinks as they moved through rubble before strapping Troncoso to a backboard and taking her to an ambulance.
Cali was among the hardest-hit areas after Monday's 7.4-magnitude quake, which earlier reports said killed at least 95 people and toppled more than 50 structures.
With hundreds dead after Colombia's 7.4-magnitude quake, what hidden structural flaws caused the catastrophic collapse of Cali's Torres del Limonar?
Beyond the miraculous rescue of a baby, how are conflict and rugged terrain in Chocó hindering Colombia's earthquake relief efforts?
The August 10, 2026 Colombia Earthquake: Massive Destruction, Human Toll, and the Struggle for Relief in Cali and Beyond
Overview
On August 10, 2026, a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, causing widespread destruction across major cities. The quake damaged thousands of buildings and critical infrastructure, including the collapse of hospital towers in Cali, forcing staff to treat hundreds of patients outside. The disaster left at least 181 people dead, over 1,500 injured, and thousands missing, prompting citizens to create online databases to track loved ones. In response, the government declared a national emergency, imposed curfews to maintain order, and postponed public events. International aid quickly arrived, while ongoing aftershocks and damaged roads complicated rescue and relief efforts.