Colombian Earthquake Survivor Ana María Saavedra Vows to Live After Tragic Loss

A Tragedy That Shook Colombia

The 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10, 2026, left a trail of sorrow and destruction. One of the most heartbreaking stories is that of the Saavedra Caicedo family from Cali, one of the cities most affected by the quake, whose epicenter was located in San José del Palmar, Chocó.

From a four-story building in the Cuarto de Legua neighborhood, only one person emerged alive: Ana María Saavedra, a 23-year-old young woman who took shelter under a solid wood table when the structure completely collapsed. Her cries were heard by neighbors, who rescued her within minutes and rushed her to a medical center.

An Irreparable Loss

While Ana María fought for her life in the hospital, rescuers worked against the clock to find her loved ones. The outcome was tragic: her parents, Jairo Hernán Saavedra, 63, and Blanca Victoria Caicedo, 61, were found lifeless, hugging each other in their bedroom. Her triplet sisters, Sofía and Isabella, also perished; one was trapped under a staircase, and the other was the last to be located, with her death confirmed on Thursday, August 13.

The family also lost an uncle of the young women, Diego Caicedo, Blanca's brother, who was also in the building during the earthquake.

“That love was immeasurable, and proof of that is that they died together, hugging,” expressed Diana March Espinosa, cousin of the triplets' father.

“Doctor, I need to live”

Ana María underwent surgery for a pelvic fracture and, according to her relatives, the operation was successful. Before entering the operating room, the young woman uttered a phrase that her family turned into a symbol of her strength: “Doctor, I need to live because God has me here for great things,” her cousin told Noticias Telemundo.

Her cousin, Carlos Augusto Saavedra, a 49-year-old architect, confirmed that Ana María is conscious and lucid, but doctors have limited her use of social media and are providing her with psychological support. Specialists estimate that in two to three weeks she could walk again.

The news of her entire family's death was communicated to her on Thursday night, after the surgery. According to her cousin, Ana María constantly asked about her parents and sisters, unaware that they had already been found lifeless. “I don't know how to live without my sisters, I don't know how to live without my dad and my mom,” the young woman reportedly said.

A Family United by Music and Salsa

The Saavedra Caicedo triplets were inseparable. They studied marketing at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, did their last semester in France, and returned together to Cali, where they worked in the same field. Their parents, recognized fans of salsa music and the Deportivo Cali football club, were the life of family gatherings.

“They were super cheerful, very happy people. They loved sharing with family, they loved music, they loved salsa,” Carlos Saavedra recalled to AFP. Family friends, like DJ Cristian Riascos, rescued the father's record collection from the rubble, featuring classics by Héctor Lavoe, Sonora Ponceña, and Richie Ray.

A Future to Rebuild

Ana María's family has organized a support network to accompany her in the coming years. Her aunts Vicky and Esperanza will stay in Cali to care for her permanently. Additionally, they created a campaign to raise funds, as the young woman lost not only her family but also her home.

“Ana María not only needs to recover. She needs to have a home again. Cover her medical and basic expenses and find some stability to start rebuilding her life,” wrote Diana March Espinosa on Instagram.

The earthquake, which so far has left more than 280 dead and nearly 4,000 injured across the country, exposed the fragility of buildings in Cali, where 104 people lost their lives and 115 remain missing, according to the latest official report.

Sources: Infobae, BBC Mundo, La Nación, Clarín, TN.