Thirty-six hours after a catastrophic national disaster, there’s usually not much hope of finding any more survivors.
But that doesn’t mean it never happens. Three days after what, to me, was among the most powerful earthquakes that I have ever seen, a heroic group of rescuers kept digging and digging for over 10 hours until they achieved the impossible and pulled out 32-year-old Daniela Largo Sanchez, who had been trapped under a collapsed building.
Miracles do happen:
Applause went up as rescuers pulled Daniela Largo Sánchez from the ruins of a building where she had been trapped for 36 hours.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 12, 2026
According to Bogota firefighters the woman had been located ten hours before the rescue but had to be delicately rescued as she was buried deep under… pic.twitter.com/cwbni9NY4K
Applause went up as rescuers pulled Daniela Largo Sánchez from the ruins of a building where she had been trapped for 36 hours.
According to Bogota firefighters the woman had been located ten hours before the rescue but had to be delicately rescued as she was buried deep under the rubble.
The 7.4 earthquake that struck at 7:34 am on August 10 killed as many as 254 people (numbers are still coming in), injured almost 4,000, and toppled 243 buildings. The power of the temblor proved yet again that we are not the masters of the earth:
University Hospital collapsed during a massive 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia. So far the death toll is 111, along with
— Adam Scott (@chefcascottccc) August 10, 2026
:
1,575 HOMES DAMAGED
61 BUILDINGS COLLAPSED
87 INJURED https://t.co/RXgRbRsKJU pic.twitter.com/Up0novm3JZ
MORE: Terrifying Video of Apartment Building Collapse Emerges As Monster 7.4 Quake Rocks Colombia
Rescuers refused to give in:
🚨❤️ 36 HORAS BAJO LOS ESCOMBROS Y UNA VIDA QUE VOLVIÓ A NACER
— Policía Metropolitana de Pereira (@PoliciaPereira) August 12, 2026
Daniela Largo Sánchez fue rescatada con vida tras permanecer 36 horas bajo los escombros en el centro de Pereira.#FuerzasQueSalvanVidas #IncondicionalesEnLaAdversidad pic.twitter.com/yEHd5V4qky
Translation by X:
🚨❤️ 36 HOURS UNDER THE RUBBLE AND A LIFE THAT WAS REBORN
Daniela Largo Sánchez was rescued alive after remaining 36 hours under the rubble in downtown Pereira.
#FuerzasQueSalvanVidas #IncondicionalesEnLaAdversidad
Daniela, who has a 12-year-old son, survived because first responders went the extra mile — and then some — after a local resident heard her cries. Here's how they pulled off the impossible:
Once emergency workers had arrived at the site, they were able to locate Largo with the help of a small camera.
However, her rescue was complicated by the fact that four heavy concrete slabs were blocking the way.
Local firefighters aided by colleagues deployed from the capital, Bogotá, and the disaster response team of the national police force had to dig two tunnels to reach her.
Through one opening, dug from above, they were able to provide Largo with oxygen. But it was only through a second tunnel, dug from below, that they were able to free her.
As amazing as the rescue was, however, Sánchez faces a daunting and frankly uncertain road to recovery. At first, she seemed to be in good condition, but her arm had been trapped the whole time, and when it was freed, the blood started to flow within her system. She went into cardiac arrest and had to be resuscitated for 17 minutes, and the arm developed gangrene and will likely have to be at least partially amputated.
All too often, we read about bad people doing bad things and world events that bring us down. This incredible effort, though, reminds us that there are a whole lot of heroes on our planet, and miracles do happen.
We wish the best for Daniela Largo Sánchez as she faces a difficult road to recovery.
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