Rescue dog finds child alive after 32 hours under rubble in Cali

CALI - A child was rescued alive in Cali after spending more than 32 hours trapped beneath rubble, in an operation that highlights the crucial role of trained search-and-rescue dogs following Colombia’s devastating earthquake.

After hours of searching, one of the trained dogs barked at a specific location, signaling the possible presence of someone beneath the debris. That alert guided rescuers and residents, who were eventually able to reach the child and pull him out alive.

The operation was coordinated by Roger Casas, head of the Colombian Red Cross canine rescue team in Valle del Cauca. Since the earthquake, the rescue-dog teams have made more than 13 alerts, indicating possible human presence beneath collapsed structures.

Among the dogs deployed are Hill, a seven-year-old Dutch Shepherd, along with Isis, Max, Rufo and Apolo.

The Red Cross is urging people not to interfere while the dogs are working. According to Casas, a trained dog can sweep an area in just 15 to 20 minutes, while people may need three or four hours to search the same space.

For that reason, relatives, volunteers and bystanders are being asked to give the dogs the time and space they need. Interrupting their work can delay the discovery of survivors.

According to the article, the earthquake has left at least 239 dead, 3,755 injured and 400 missing. During the critical first 48 to 72 hours after such a disaster, every minute matters, making rescue dogs one of the most valuable tools in the search for survivors.