Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake in Colombia: 294 Dead, Around 4,000 Injured and 400 Still Missing

Nearly five days after the deadly magnitude 7.4 earthquake, rescue teams in Colombia are continuing to search for survivors in devastated areas in the west of the country.

So far, the death toll has risen to at least 294, while around 4,000 others have been injured. Authorities also report that nearly 400 people remain missing.

Search-and-rescue operations are underway amid the rubble and collapsed buildings, while families continue to wait for information about their relatives.

The tremors struck Colombia’s coffee-growing region, also affecting cities such as Cali and Pereira. As a result, around 13,000 homes were destroyed and thousands of other buildings were damaged.

Although the critical 72-hour window has passed, teams continue working on the ground in the hope of finding survivors.

In addition to the humanitarian emergency, the earthquake has also presented Colombia’s newly elected government with a major reconstruction challenge.

Authorities have declared a state of economic emergency and announced that they will support displaced families and rebuild damaged homes, schools and hospitals. Meanwhile, international aid is also arriving in the country.

The World Bank has pledged $200 million to address the disaster, while the United States has announced an additional $11 million fund for rescue and relief operations.