Faint Whisper From Rubble Leads Rescuers To Baby After Colombia Earthquake

A baby and his father were pulled alive from the rubble of a collapsed five-storey building in Cali after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia, killing more than 200 people and triggering a massive search-and-rescue operation.

The dramatic rescue unfolded when a local resident, Brian Osorio Zuluaga, heard a faint voice coming from the wreckage of La Torres del Limonar residential complex. After asking rescuers to remain silent, he heard a man calling for help and saying he was trapped with a baby.

Osorio and other volunteers began clearing debris with their bare hands. A large concrete slab initially prevented them from reaching the pair, but several people eventually managed to lift it together.

Baby Pulled From Collapsed Building

Rescue workers found the infant trapped beneath the rubble with his father. Osorio said the baby's head appeared purplish because he was struggling to breathe.

As rescuers cleared more debris, the baby's breathing improved and his colour returned. Video from the scene showed the dusty infant being carefully pulled from the wreckage before being handed to a police officer, who took him to an ambulance.

The father, who had suffered injuries, was then rescued from beneath a concrete plank.

"Unity is strength," Osorio said, stressing that no individual could have lifted the heavy slab alone.

Watch the video here:

Rescue Operations Enter Third Day

Search and rescue operations entered their third day on Wednesday, with emergency teams continuing to look for survivors across the worst-hit areas.

More than 200 people have died in the disaster, according to a CNN count based on reports from officials. The earthquake struck western Colombia's coffee-growing region and caused extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure.

In Cali, another woman was rescued from beneath rubble on Tuesday following a complex operation involving multiple rescue teams. In Pereira, volunteers and emergency workers formed human chains to clear debris from damaged buildings.

Chocó Communities Seek Urgent Aid

The situation remains particularly difficult in Chocó, one of Colombia's poorest regions and close to the earthquake's epicentre.

Victor Chamapuro, an indigenous leader from the Wounaan Indigenous Reserve of Buenavista, said all houses in the community had been destroyed or severely damaged.

"Where are we going to sleep now?" he told CNN, appealing for food and medicines.

The remote reserve can only be reached by boat, with the journey from Buenaventura taking around five hours.

International Assistance Mobilised

The European Union has activated its Copernicus satellite service and pledged funding to support Colombia's earthquake response.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office only last week, announced economic relief measures for affected communities and financial assistance for families who lost their homes.