Groom-to-Be Found Dead in Rubble of Collapsed Building Just Days Before His Wedding After 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake

The powerful quake struck Colombia on Aug. 10, killing at least 287 people

NEED TO KNOW

• A groom-to-be, Juan Felipe Giraldo, was found dead in the rubble of a hotel in Pereira, Colombia, two days before he was set to celebrate his wedding
• “Forever and always in my heart … You were the most complete love I ever had,” his fiancée wrote on social media
• At least 287 people have been confirmed dead after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Aug. 10

A groom-to-be was found dead just days before he was set to get married.

Ahead of his wedding to fiancée Natalia Patiño — with whom he shares a 2-year-old son — in Bogotá, Colombia, Juan Felipe Giraldo traveled to Pereira for work when a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake suddenly struck western Colombia on Monday, Aug. 10.

Days later, rescue crews found the body of the 24-year-old eyewear salesman in the rubble of his hotel, according to Noticias Caracol and the Magdalena Daily.

“COL 30 carried out the recovery of the lifeless body of a male individual named Juan Felipe Giraldo, identified by family members,” authorities stated in a report, per the Magdalena Daily. “This was done in conjunction with COL 11 and COL 13 at worksite C10, Hotel Dibeni.”

After learning of her fiancé’s death, Natalia paid tribute to Juan on her Instagram Stories alongside a photo of the couple with their son.

“Forever and always in my heart,” she wrote over the photo, per Noticias Caracol. “You were the most complete love I ever had. I love you forever.”

In the days before Juan’s body was found, the 24-year-old’s father, Hernán Giraldo, told Reuters that he was still holding on to hope that his son would be found alive ahead of his wedding.

“I’m here waiting to hug my son, alive,” he told the outlet, noting that his son had previously sent him a video from the hotel, confirming that he had arrived safely. “He was in that hotel room. I’ve been here since Monday night in case something happens, to find him.”

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While the epicenter of the quake was in San José del Palmar, approximately 174 miles west of Bogotá, the powerful earthquake was felt in nine departments and all 32 departmental capitals, after which it triggered mass evacuations, according to Reuters.

Venezuelan rescue workers later arrived in Pereira to help search for survivors using thermal imaging cameras.

“We’ll always have high hopes; we’ve found people alive even 10 days later,” Cristian Acevedo, one of the rescue workers, told the outlet. “The goal is to search and find people alive.”

In addition to Juan’s tragic death, Colombian officials reported on Friday, Aug. 14, that at least 287 people were killed as a result of the earthquake, per Local 10.

Earlier this week, more than 2,700 people had been reported missing and at least 600 had been injured, per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).

Following the earthquake, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national disaster and announced that he was traveling to Bogotá to “focus on addressing the emergency that our country faces.”

“I have convened a United Command Post at the UNGRD from where I will personally lead the actions to assist communities in Chocó, Eje Cafetero, and all affected areas,” he wrote on X.

He added, “To the Colombians who are today facing hard times, I want to say: you are not alone. You have a president who hurts for his people and who will do whatever is necessary to protect them, stand by them, and get through, together, all the affected regions.”