CALI, Colombia — Rescuers in Colombia continue to search for survivors after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the nation on Monday, devastating swaths of its coffee region and western coast. The tremor left at least 273 people dead and thousands injured, with the third-largest city of Cali bearing significant damage.
The critical 72-hour window for finding human survivors closed on Thursday, Aug. 13, but efforts persist. During the ongoing search, the rescue of pets from collapsed structures has provided moments of hope for residents who lost their homes.
Vickye Giraldo, a 56-year-old lawyer, held her cat Polux tight after rescuers pulled the animal from her ruined apartment building in Cali. Giraldo's building now leans precariously following the quake. She described the reunion as an "indescribable moment."
Giraldo had lived with two dogs and two cats in her apartment. While Polux and one dog survived, her other dog died and a second cat remains missing. She expressed deep relief, saying, "These have been very hard days, thinking we might not be able to rescue them, but in the end it's a dream come true. It really is."
The earthquake destroyed over 12,000 homes, according to official data, leaving thousands of families without shelter or possessions.
Applause erupted on Thursday as a rescue team extracted a dog from another collapsed building. Veterinarians immediately attended to the visibly weakened animal, providing water before transporting it for further care.
Nelson Vidales, a volunteer assisting in the rescue efforts, emphasized the emotional importance of pets to their owners. "Pets are like children. I insist on that," Vidales said. He added, "I know there are a lot of people thinking about humans, but the time must come when pets are looked for too. That's what I'm here for."
Andrea Paredes, another Cali resident, has not given up on finding her missing dog and cats. Her husband managed to grab one small dog as they fled their shaking building, but other family pets remain trapped.
The earthquake has prompted a national animal rescue effort, with nearly 1,900 cats and dogs reportedly needing assistance. These operations run parallel to the ongoing search for human victims.
Local authorities and aid organizations are coordinating resources to address both immediate humanitarian needs and the welfare of displaced animals, sifting through debris for any signs of life, human or animal, as the recovery phase begins.
