Colombia earthquake rescue continues as hundreds remain missing

Colombia's rescue teams continue their search for survivors following a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country early this week. As of Thursday, over 281 people had lost their lives, with more than 3,900 others injured, according to official figures. At least 379 individuals remain unaccounted for, as rescue operations shift from active search-and-rescue missions to debris clearance. The focus of the operation has moved toward stabilizing affected regions and providing aid to displaced residents, marking a transition from immediate emergency response to long-term recovery planning. The earthquake, which hit shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Monday, caused widespread destruction across western Colombia, particularly impacting the third-largest city, Cali, and the coffee-growing region near Pereira. Apartment buildings collapsed, homes and infrastructure were damaged, and thousands of residents fled their residences. The tremor, one of the strongest in the country in recent decades, triggered panic and chaos, with many people forced to seek shelter outdoors. In Cali, rescue crews began prioritizing debris removal, signaling that the critical 72-hour window for locating survivors has largely passed. David Tamayo, head of Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, acknowledged the grim reality of the situation during a statement on Thursday evening. He emphasized that while the chances of finding additional survivors were diminishing, the team would continue its efforts to locate all missing individuals. “Our mission is to keep searching and find all those people who are reported missing,” he said. This sentiment echoed among local volunteers and rescuers, who worked tirelessly under challenging conditions, often with minimal resources and support. Among the victims was Enrique Marin, whose mother was trapped beneath the rubble of her home in Pereira. Marin, who traveled over 10 hours from Bogota upon receiving word of his mother’s condition, described how she was rescued with vital signs but later succumbed to her injuries en route to the hospital. He recounted the emotional devastation of losing his mother, noting that she was found wearing pajamas and holding the house keys in her hand, a poignant symbol of the tragedy that unfolded. In Cali, the rescue efforts were marked by both urgency and caution. Volunteers operated in bucket brigades, carrying supplies and equipment through the rubble, while coordinators used megaphones to maintain order and ensure safety protocols were followed. Some areas saw rescuers carefully extracting hazardous materials such as gas tanks, underscoring the delicate balance between saving lives and preventing further danger. Meanwhile, local businesses, including restaurants, stepped up to provide essential meals for rescuers and volunteers, with Monica Mina, a restaurant owner, leading efforts to distribute approximately 1,000 meals daily. Further north, in Roldanillo Cemetery, authorities confirmed the discovery of human remains believed to be linked to the earthquake. These findings, conducted by Colombia’s disappeared persons unit, added another layer of complexity to the ongoing investigation. Elsewhere, in the port city of Buenaventura, residents faced additional challenges as rescue teams struggled to reach remote areas. Local reports indicated that some neighborhoods remained inaccessible due to the presence of armed groups, which reportedly intercepted food donations and claimed authority over distribution. As the search for survivors continues, the risk posed by frequent aftershocks, over 150 recorded since Monday, remains a concern for both rescuers and displaced residents. The government estimates that more than 10,500 homes have been destroyed, highlighting the scale of the crisis. President Abelardo De La Espriella, who assumed office just days before the disaster, faces mounting pressure to coordinate a comprehensive relief effort and address the growing humanitarian needs of the affected population.