Colombian Emergency Workers Rescue Woman After 36 Hours Trapped Under Concrete Slabs

Emergency workers in Colombia have successfully rescued a 32-year-old woman, identified as Sirleny Romero, from beneath collapsed concrete slabs, 36 hours after an earthquake struck the region. The meticulous rescue operation lasted for 10 hours.

Ms Romero had been trapped since Saturday morning following a seismic event. She was found conscious and responsive, suffering from various injuries including a broken leg. Rescuers from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) and other local agencies worked tirelessly to stabilise the debris and carefully remove the surrounding material.

The successful extraction of Ms Romero provides a rare positive outcome amidst the devastation. Authorities are continuing search and rescue efforts, though the window for finding further survivors diminishes with each passing hour. The incident underscores the inherent vulnerabilities of infrastructure in earthquake-prone areas and the critical role of well-resourced emergency services.