{
  "id": 1345044,
  "title": "'Terrifying' moment Sydney couple's home fell 'to bits' in Colombia quake",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/terrifying-moment-sydney-couples-home-fell-to-bits-in-colombia-quake",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T20:25:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "ABC News AU",
    "slug": "abc-news-au",
    "url": "https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-17/sydney-couples-cali-home-destroyed-in-colombia-earthquake/107043506"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Ana Maria Chaves and Christian Bitancurt, a Sydney couple, relocated to Cali, Colombia, a city known for its salsa dancing, less than a year ago. However, their lives were drastically altered when a magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck the region last Monday. The couple sought refuge under their dining table, but a wall in their third-floor apartment collapsed on them. The aftermath of the quake left their city in ruins, with people crying and in shock, struggling to find communication. Their apartment, now deemed unsafe, forced the couple to start anew, returning briefly to reclaim essential items. The Sydney Colombian community rallied together, organizing a gathering at a local restaurant, raising funds for the Red Cross. Despite the ongoing recovery efforts in Cali, the couple remains uncertain about their future, finding solace in the community's collective response to their plight.",
  "summary": "The lives of Sydney couple Christian Bitancurt and Ana Maria Chaves, who recently relocated to Colombia, have been uprooted after the magnitude-7.4 earthquake.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}