From miracle to tragedy: Mother of rescued baby found dead, another woman dies after 36 hours under rubble

Five days after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, the nation grapples with a rising death toll and stories of both miraculous survival and profound loss. The National Unit for Disaster Risk and Disaster Management (UNGRD) has officially reported 294 fatalities and 3,935 injuries, with 320 individuals still unaccounted for.

Amidst the ongoing recovery efforts, rescuers discovered the bodies of Valentina Vanegas Galiano, 39, and her brother-in-law, Juan Esteban Gómez. Their remains were found among the debris of La Torre del Limonar, a five-story building in the southern part of Cali that was severely damaged by the quake. This discovery adds to the tragedy, as Valentina was the mother of Salomón, a two-month-old infant who had been miraculously rescued.

The rescue of baby Salomón on August 12 had offered a glimmer of hope. Found alive with his father, Juan David Gómez, after rescuers heard faint cries from the rubble, the infant sustained only minor scratches and a slight head injury. Juan David, though requiring surgery for his injuries, is reported to be in stable condition. Their survival after being trapped for two days had fueled hopes for finding Valentina and Juan Esteban alive.

Brian Osorio Zuluaga, a local resident, played a crucial role in the rescue of Salomón and Juan David. While checking on his grandmother after the earthquake, he came across the collapsed building. While attempting to assist in the rescue, he heard a faint whisper, which led him to Juan David and Salomón trapped beneath a large concrete slab. Osorio managed to extract the baby and hand him over to the police, while firefighters continued the rescue of the father. More than 20 people were rescued alive from the complex within the first 12 hours following the earthquake, according to Reuters. Cali, one of the most affected areas, has recorded at least 117 deaths.

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Yes, I'm here. I'm with a baby.