As rubble clears, Colombia begins focusing on recovery after the earthquake One week after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, rescue operations are winding down as the nation shifts its focus from saving lives to rebuilding infrastructure and supporting those displaced by the disaster. The earthquake, which devastated regions including San Jose del Palmar, Pereira, Quibdo, and Cali, has left a trail of destruction, with over 127,557 homes damaged and 26,945 completely destroyed. Critical facilities such as 285 health centers, 2,838 educational institutions, 407 roads, 92 water supply systems, 44 bridges, and five airports also sustained severe damage. The toll on human life has been equally staggering, with at least 289 confirmed deaths, 4,187 injuries, and an estimated 3,000 people still missing, though official figures remain inconsistent. Rescue teams have saved 354 lives in the past week, but the window for finding survivors has narrowed significantly. Sergeant Joel Bustamente of the Bogota Fire Department noted that search-and-rescue operations are now transitioning to a medium-term emergency phase, prioritizing reconstruction, demolition, and recovery efforts. In some areas, such as the seven-story Vanessa Building in Cali, rescue efforts have been suspended, with teams now focusing on recovering bodies. Volunteers and international aid workers, including teams from Israel, the United States, and Mexico, have continued to assist, though hope for finding survivors remains fragile. The scale of the disaster has forced authorities to address immediate needs for shelter and basic necessities. Over 120,000 families have been affected, with local governments converting sports stadiums and community centers into temporary shelters.#colombia #cali #san_jose_del_palmar #pereira #quibdo
Woman pulled alive from rubble 36 hours after Colombia quake A 32-year-old woman, Daniela Largo, was rescued alive after being trapped under rubble for 36 hours following a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia. The rescue operation, which took 10 hours, involved firefighters and emergency workers who dug two tunnels to reach her beneath a collapsed building in Pereira, a city in Colombia's coffee-growing region. Largo was finally freed through a second tunnel dug from below four concrete slabs, with oxygen provided through the first tunnel dug from above. Her mother, speaking to AFP news agency, expressed hope that her 12-year-old son, waiting at home, would soon be reunited with her. The earthquake, which occurred at 07:34 local time on Monday, had its epicenter near the village of San José del Palmar in Chocó province. The tremor, felt across a vast area, caused widespread destruction, with seismometers near the epicenter recording shaking lasting between 90 seconds and two minutes. Over 100 aftershocks have been reported since the initial quake. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella praised Largo's rescue on social media, calling it "news which fills us with hope." The disaster has claimed at least 265 lives, with 496 others still missing, according to the president. In Pereira, 79 people are confirmed dead, the second-highest toll after Cali, where 95 fatalities have been recorded. Asocapitales, the Association of Colombian Capital Cities, reported that at least 92 buildings collapsed in Pereira, leaving 15 people trapped and 37 missing. In Cali, Colombia's third most populous city, more than 200 individuals remain trapped as of Tuesday afternoon.#colombia #abuelo_de_la_espriella #cali #pereira #daniela_largo
Colombia Declares Three Days of Mourning After Deadliest Earthquake in a Century Colombia has declared three days of national mourning following a catastrophic earthquake that killed over 200 people and left thousands missing, marking one of the country’s worst natural disasters in modern history. The magnitude 7.4 quake, which struck western Colombia on Monday, flattened buildings, damaged infrastructure, and triggered more than 100 aftershocks in the days that followed. Rescue operations continue as teams work tirelessly to locate survivors trapped beneath the rubble, with the government urging citizens to remain hopeful amid the unfolding crisis. The disaster has placed immense pressure on President Abelardo de la Espriella, who assumed office just three days prior to the earthquake. The first-time president, who came to power after a contentious election, now faces his first major challenge as the nation grapples with the aftermath. Government officials confirmed at least 254 deaths, with over 2,500 injured and 195 people officially missing. However, civilian-run databases suggest the number of unaccounted individuals could be as high as 4,000. The search for survivors has intensified as the disaster enters its third day. Aid agencies emphasize that the first 48 to 72 hours are critical for locating people alive under collapsed structures, though survival times can extend if victims have access to water and food. Rescue crews have been working around the clock in the hardest-hit cities, including Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo. In Cali, entire neighborhoods were reduced to rubble, with residents and firefighters collaborating to clear debris using hand tools, shovels, and even bare hands.#colombia #cali #president_abelardo_de_la_espriella #choco #pereira
Colombia Earthquake Kills Over 100, Triggers State of National Disaster A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people and injuring 87 others as dozens of buildings collapsed. The disaster, the largest to hit the country in this century, prompted President Abelardo de la Espriella to declare a state of national disaster, deploying government resources to rescue survivors, assist affected communities, and deliver aid. The president emphasized that the priority was to free people trapped under rubble, with over 1,600 buildings damaged, including at least 61 that fully collapsed. The earthquake, which occurred around 7:30 a.m. local time in the remote Chocó region, was felt as far as the capital Bogotá and neighboring countries Ecuador, Venezuela, and Panama. The epicenter was in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people, and was followed by two aftershocks measuring 2.8 and 4.8 on the Richter scale. Rescue teams worked tirelessly to locate survivors, with reports of extensive damage in cities like Pereira, where at least 40 people were killed, and Valle del Cauca, where 27 deaths were confirmed, including three children. Local officials reported varying casualty figures, with the death toll initially estimated at over 100 before being revised to 22. However, the most recent count stood at 111 fatalities, with the hardest-hit areas including Pereira, Chocó, and Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city. In Pereira, the mayor declared a state of emergency, while the governor of Chocó confirmed 12 deaths and 84 injuries in the largely rural region. Rescue efforts in Cali, where at least 15 people were reported dead, involved firefighters and volunteers working to free trapped individuals from collapsed structures.#colombia #president_abelardo_de_la_espriella #choco #san_jose_del_palmar #pereira
