Rescue workers in Colombia are racing against time to free survivors trapped under rubble following Monday's powerful earthquake. The magnitude 7.4 quake struck at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT) and was felt across a vast area of western Colombia, with fresh aftershocks continuing into Tuesday. The official death toll stands at 181, but aggregated figures from local officials suggest it could be higher, potentially exceeding 240.
President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a state of emergency. Speaking from Pereira, one of the worst-hit cities, he reported nearly 2,600 injured and about 200 people still missing. More than 1,100 homes have been destroyed, and over 8,000 damaged. Many residents spent the night outdoors in cities like Pereira and Cali, either because their homes were destroyed or out of fear of further collapses.
In Cali, a city of 2.2 million people where 95 deaths have been confirmed, a unified command post has been set up to coordinate rescue efforts. Mayor Alejandro Eder said 239 people remain trapped, 949 are injured, and 45 buildings have partially or completely collapsed. Several upper floors of a city hospital, including pediatric wards, collapsed, leaving some patients trapped.
In the Calima neighborhood, four children died when a section of the Gimnasio Calima school collapsed. Mayor Antonio Cadavid stated that 30 other children were seriously injured and taken to care centers. To combat looting, a curfew has been imposed from 8:00 PM to 6:00 AM.
In Pereira, 79 people have died, according to the fire department. The city has implemented a car-free day to facilitate search operations, with hundreds of volunteers working to remove debris. A resident described the chaos: "It's impossible to get around the city center. At least one building collapsed in Bolívar Square. People are afraid other structures will collapse as well."
In Manizales, five people were killed and 60 buildings collapsed. Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas urged the public not to share unverified information on social media, as it could cause panic. Colombia's geological service reports over 70 aftershocks since Monday, including two magnitude 3.6 quakes on Tuesday.
International support is pouring in. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed solidarity with the people and government of Colombia. Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares reported 164 Spaniards still missing. The Trump administration, which backed President Espriella in his election, announced a $15.5 million donation. Offers of help have also come from Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador, and Venezuela.
Source: www.bbc.co.uk