Argentine survivor describes Colombia earthquake: 'This was the end of the world'

Roque Segre, an Argentine who has lived in Cali, Colombia, since 2012, described the recent 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the country as "the end of the world."

Segre was getting up when the tremor began, initially feeling like a typical small quake familiar to Cali residents. However, the shaking intensified rapidly, causing his house to sway. His immediate priority shifted from understanding the event to ensuring his family's safety. He shouted for his children to go to the patio as the ground continued to move, plunging the city into one of its worst seismic tragedies in recent years.

His house, located in an elevated area of Cali, structurally withstood the earthquake well, with only minor material damage reported. Despite his own safety, Segre was deeply affected by the unfolding tragedy. He noted the unusual duration of the earthquake, which lasted over a minute and a half, describing the sensation as uncontrollable and apocalyptic. As someone from Bahía Blanca, Argentina, a region unaccustomed to seismic activity, the experience was particularly jarring.

Following the initial shock and ensuring his family's safety, Segre and his son joined a group of neighbors around 10 a.m. to assist at a collapsed building. They were not trained rescue specialists but neighbors offering help. They spent eight hours working among the debris, deeply disturbed by the scenes they witnessed. Segre mentioned that in the face of such devastation, no one was thinking about taking photos; their focus was solely on the rescue efforts and the overwhelming reality of the tragedy.