Baby pulled alive from Colombia earthquake rubble as rescue window closes

Rescue teams in Colombia were racing against time to find survivors of the recent magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the country on Monday, with the critical 72-hour window for locating survivors set to close. As of now, the official death toll stands at 265, with over 3,500 injured and nearly 500 people still missing. Initial reports suggested 3,000 to 4,000 people were missing or out of contact, but authorities have since narrowed the figure.

Search-and-rescue experts warn that the chances of finding survivors drop sharply after three days, although past disasters have proven that people can still be rescued even beyond that point, particularly if they have access to food and water.

In Cali and Pereira, two of the cities most affected by the quake, rescue efforts continued through a third consecutive night of laborious work. Teams were seen clearing rubble with their bare hands and employing cranes and search dogs, creating moments of silence to listen for any cries for help or signs of life. Marta Pérez, a resident of Cali, recounted that two of her relatives were trapped under the rubble and felt helpless. "We will hold on to hope until the very last moment," she expressed.

Rescue volunteer Fernando Loaiza vowed that they would not stop until more survivors were found. "As you can see, we are all here, the whole city of Cali, hoping to find more survivors," he said. Mayor Alejandro Eder of Cali echoed these sentiments, stating that rescue efforts were entering their final stage.

The heart-wrenching rescue of a 3-month-old baby, Salomón, from the rubble of a five-story building in Cali, captured global attention. A passerby heard the weakening voice of Salomón's father calling from beneath the debris, saying, "I'm here. I'm with a baby." Video footage showed the infant, dressed in a dust-covered onesie, being carefully pulled from the rubble by rescuers.

His father, Juan David Gómez, was also trapped but was eventually rescued. Both father and son were taken to a hospital and are in stable condition. The baby suffered only minor injuries, while Juan required surgery and is recovering. His mother, Valentina, remained trapped along with her younger brother, and it was uncertain if they had survived.

In Pereira, rescuers focused on a collapsed bakery where they believed vendor Pablo Loaiza might still be alive. Using equipment capable of detecting slight movements, they found signs suggesting he was still alive. Pablo's relatives gathered at the scene, anxiously awaiting updates, as rescuers asked him to knock twice and then three times from beneath the rubble, seemingly responding to their pleas. Excited cheers erupted from those present, believing that Pablo might still be alive.