Search-and-rescue operations are continuing urgently in Colombia, where teams are working to locate survivors beneath the rubble left by the devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Monday.
The provisional death toll has risen to at least 265, with nearly 3,500 people injured. President Abelardo de la Esperanza also announced that 496 people are listed as missing.
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Western Colombia has been hit hardest, particularly Cali and the area known as the “coffee region.” The earthquake toppled buildings, damaged roads and left vehicles trapped beneath masses of debris.
More than 25,800 families have been affected by the disaster, while around 11,000 buildings have been completely destroyed or partially damaged.
During a press conference held in Bogota on Wednesday evening, President Abelardo de la Esperanza announced the updated figures and said the absolute priority remained finding people who may still be trapped beneath the rubble.
He said all efforts were focused on those who are missing.
The official number of missing people remains 496, but records maintained by civil society organizations put the figure at more than 4,100.
Search operations are continuing around the clock in the worst-hit urban areas, including Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo. Every passing hour reduces the chances of teams finding survivors.
According to humanitarian organizations, the most critical window for locating and extracting survivors is between 48 and 72 hours after an earthquake. The chances of survival may extend beyond that period if those trapped have food and water.
Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said on Wednesday afternoon that rescuers were continuing to detect signs of life beneath the rubble.
According to him, the following 20 hours would be the most critical period for finding and rescuing survivors.
Eder stressed that every minute mattered, describing the teams’ continuing race against time.
Despite the scenes of destruction, some operations have brought moments of hope. In Pereira late Tuesday evening, rescuers managed to pull Daniela Largo out alive after an extremely difficult operation that lasted 12 hours.
To rescue her, the teams created a narrow passage through the rubble and worked to free her trapped hand. During the operation, a doctor managed to administer intravenous fluids to keep her condition stable.
After she was finally freed, the young woman was wrapped in a blue blanket and taken to an ambulance. Firefighters embraced one another, while people watching the operation broke into applause.
However, a short time later in the same city, teams recovered the body of a man from a building and covered it with a white blanket.
In the coffee-growing region, one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake, authorities have converted schools, sports facilities and other public buildings into temporary shelters for thousands of displaced people.
Many families in Pereira and Cali are spending the night in parks. Some are afraid to return because of the aftershocks and the risk that damaged homes could collapse, while others have been left completely homeless.
Since the main quake, the Colombian Geological Service has recorded 130 aftershocks.
Edith Penagos, 48, who is staying with her teenage son in one of the white tents set up in a Pereira park, said they had access to the basic necessities: shelter, food and water, while she was also receiving medical care.
Rodrigo Leon Loya, a seismologist and professor of Geosciences at the University of the Andes, said the likelihood of the same area being struck again by an earthquake of similar magnitude was low. However, he did not rule out continued seismic activity.
The professor noted that Colombia is crossed by many active faults.
According to him, the question is not whether such an event could happen again, but when an earthquake of similar magnitude will strike another of Colombia’s seismic sources.
Poverty and Armed Conflict Hamper Relief Operations
The disaster response is particularly complicated in areas such as Choco, where the earthquake’s epicenter was located. Extreme poverty and decades of armed conflict, which have caused recurring waves of forced displacement, are making the situation even more difficult to manage.
The true extent of the damage in the forest-covered northwest has yet to be determined. Telecommunications have been disrupted, while many of the affected communities are isolated and can be reached only by waterways.
Giovanni Rizzo, director of the Norwegian Refugee Council in Colombia, said the earthquake was exacerbating an already serious humanitarian situation and that greater support was needed for humanitarian operations.
Many humanitarian organizations were already operating in Choco. They help implement the 2016 peace agreement between the government and left-wing rebels, while also addressing the consequences of continuing violence involving other armed groups.
Thanks to their prior presence in the area, these organizations were able to begin supporting people affected by the earthquake immediately.
UN Coordinator in Colombia Maria José Torres said their presence on the ground had exponentially increased their ability to remain close to the people.
Foreign Aid Begins Arriving in Colombia
On Wednesday, tons of humanitarian supplies sent by countries in the region and international organizations began arriving in the country.
The US State Department announced that disaster response teams had begun arriving in Colombia on Monday. The United States has made more than $15 million in aid available.
Mexico sent two military aircraft to Pereira carrying 19.5 tons of nonperishable food, along with 19 members of the Mexican security forces.
In the coming days, the Mexican government plans to send another 39 tons of aid. An additional 255 military specialists and 20 rescue dogs are also on standby to travel to Colombia if needed.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has offered to send two aircraft carrying a total of 100 tons of humanitarian aid.
Pope Leo XIV Expresses Solidarity and Prays for Those Affected
On Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV thanked those involved in rescue and recovery efforts. He also said he was praying for the victims, the injured and everyone affected by the disaster.
The Pope expressed his solidarity with his Colombian brothers and sisters who have suffered the consequences of the recent earthquake.
