Rescuers in Colombia made urgent efforts to locate survivors of an earthquake as the critical 72-hour window for rescue operations was about to close. The magnitude 7.4 quake, the strongest in Colombia this century, killed 265 people, injured almost 3,500, and left nearly 500 unaccounted for, according to Colombia’s new president Abelardo De La Espriella. Civilian databases reported more than 4,100 missing. Nearly 26,000 families were affected, De La Espriella stated.
“Our efforts are focused on the disappeared,” he informed journalists in Bogotá, Colombia’s capital. In cities like Cali and Pereira, emergency crews, aided by cranes and sniffer dogs, worked tirelessly through a third night. They paused only to listen for signs of life. Thursday morning marked the end of the 72-hour period when survivors are most likely to be found alive beneath collapsed buildings.
Cali resident Martha Perez expressed her feelings of helplessness as two relatives were believed trapped under debris. “We will hold on to hope until the very end,” she told reporters. “All of us here, the entire city of Cali, are hoping to find more survivors,” volunteer rescuer Fernando Loaiza said. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder noted that rescue efforts were entering the final phase.
De La Espriella declared the disaster an “economic emergency” and announced three days of national mourning. “We will do what is necessary,” he vowed, promising that the country and society would recover. Official figures indicated that more than 11,000 homes were destroyed, leaving thousands homeless.
An aerial view showed civilians and emergency responders working together amid the rubble of Cali, continuing search and rescue operations.
In Pereira, rescuers focused on a collapsed bakery, where they hoped a street vendor trapped since the earthquake might still be alive. Using equipment to detect vibrations, they picked up potential signs of life from Pablo Loaiza. This news prompted anxious relatives to gather near the wreckage. “They tell us it could be him,” said his 16-year-old niece, Sara Loaiza. Relatives said the trapped man appeared to respond when asked to knock under the rubble, leading to applause from those present.
Rescuer Johana Sanchez explained, “Every half hour we make everyone be quiet to see if we can find people alive.” So far, three people had been rescued alive, with three others found dead.
Many people spent nights outdoors, either due to damaged homes or fear of aftershocks. Significant structural damage occurred in Manizales, affecting buildings like the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary.
In Roldanillo, Yuliana Mendez sifted through the wreckage of the beauty products store where she worked. “It’s like starting over from scratch,” she remarked. Pereira’s Providencia neighborhood residents removed furniture and items from damaged buildings. Among them was lawyer Ana Paulina Crosthwaite, whose apartment block was rendered unsafe. “We’re in a state of shock,” she admitted. “We’re not ready to explain to our children that we must pack and start anew.”
Colombians mobilized to help, providing water, food, and supplies to affected areas, and forming long lines at blood donation centers. Blood donor Ferney Cabrera expressed, “It’s about wanting to help your community, your city, and your country.” The United States announced $15.5 million in emergency aid to Colombia, and the European Union pledged two million euros ($2.3 million).
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