Nakon potresa u Kolumbiji, 32-godišnja žena spašena iz ruševina

Rescuers in Colombia continued their search for potential survivors after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the country on Monday. Nearly 30 hours after the quake, rescuers extracted a 32-year-old woman from beneath the rubble in the city of Cali in eastern Colombia, according to foreign news agencies. The woman was trapped on the second floor of a five-story building that had collapsed. One firefighter told television station Caracol, which was reported by the German news agency DPA, that the rescue operation was challenging because firefighters had to descend seven or eight meters into the ruins. The operation took approximately 16 hours, he said, and assessed her condition as good given the circumstances. He added that there could still be 24 people trapped in the ruins of the building from which the woman was rescued, so the search continues. Authorities have declared three days of mourning following the disaster. The president, Abelardo de la Espriella, emphasized during a visit to the city of Pereira that missing persons remain their top priority. Official records list 195 people as missing, while an unofficial database has received over 4,000 reports of missing individuals, according to DPA. As of the latest figures from local authorities and Colombian officials, at least 240 people have died and more than 1,600 have been injured in the earthquake. The region hardest hit by the earthquake is Valle del Cauca, where 130 fatalities have been recorded, with 95 of them in the capital of the region, Cali. Reports of numerous deaths have also come from Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo, the capital of the Chocó department, where the epicenter of the earthquake was located. The earthquake struck early Monday morning, causing widespread destruction across several cities in western Colombia. Emergency services were immediately deployed to the affected areas, working around the clock to extract survivors and provide medical assistance. In Cali, one of the worst-hit cities, entire neighborhoods were left in ruins, with many buildings either partially or completely destroyed. Rescue teams faced difficult conditions, including unstable structures and limited access to some areas due to blocked roads and damaged infrastructure. Local hospitals have been overwhelmed with the influx of injured residents, prompting the government to request additional medical support from neighboring regions. Temporary shelters have been set up in unaffected areas to accommodate displaced families. The government has also launched an appeal for international aid, emphasizing the need for resources such as food, water, and medical supplies. In the aftermath of the disaster, officials have called for calm among the population and urged citizens to follow official instructions regarding safety measures and emergency protocols. The National Disaster Risk Management Authority has coordinated efforts with local governments and volunteer groups to ensure a swift and effective response to the crisis. As the search for survivors continues, the focus remains on locating the remaining missing individuals and providing support to those affected by the earthquake. Authorities have warned that the situation remains critical, with ongoing efforts required to assess the full extent of the damage and its impact on the region's infrastructure and communities.