Rescue teams are frantically searching for survivors in western Colombia following a devastating earthquake that has claimed the lives of over 250 individuals, as estimated by local authorities. The powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake, the strongest to hit Colombia in many years, struck the heart of the country’s coffee-growing region early Monday morning, causing widespread destruction to buildings and infrastructure.
In the aftermath of the disaster, families anxiously wait near the rubble, hoping for any signs of life. Rescue operations have been ongoing throughout the night in severely impacted cities, with teams utilizing cranes, excavators, and manual labor to locate and extract trapped individuals from the debris.
The United Nations reports that as of Monday night, 126 fatalities have been confirmed, with 1,495 individuals sustaining injuries. However, updated local estimates suggest a higher death toll of around 254, indicating the scale of the ongoing crisis as responders navigate damaged areas and restore communication lines.
Thousands of homes have been damaged, with numerous buildings collapsing entirely and hundreds of residences reduced to rubble. In Cali, residents have been forced onto the streets as parts of buildings have collapsed, leading to makeshift cooking arrangements and uncertainty about returning home. Meanwhile, in Pereira, entire residential neighborhoods have been reduced to piles of broken concrete, prompting community members to form human chains in search of survivors.
The earthquake has also disrupted critical infrastructure, leading to the closure of six airports and affecting multiple roadways. Essential services such as electricity, water, healthcare, and communication remain disrupted in various regions, posing challenges to rescue and relief efforts.
International aid is being mobilized to support the affected communities, with the United States pledging $15.5 million for emergency assistance and the Inter-American Development Bank offering $50 million for reconstruction efforts. However, with communication still limited in heavily impacted areas, authorities anticipate that assessing the full extent of the damage and determining the final casualty count may take several days.