Rescue operations are continuing in Colombia after a powerful earthquake struck the western part of the country on Monday, leaving more than 180 people dead and hundreds more unaccounted for. The quake, which hit at 07:34 local time, was felt across a vast area stretching hundreds of miles, and aftershocks continued into Tuesday.
According to President Abelardo de la Espriella, who visited the hard-hit city of Pereira, nearly 2,600 people have been injured and almost 200 remain missing. He also reported that more than 1,100 homes were destroyed and over 8,000 damaged. A state of emergency has been declared.
The official death toll stands at 181, but local officials' figures suggest the number could be higher, potentially exceeding 240. Most of the fatalities have been reported in Cali and Pereira.
In Cali, a city of 2.2 million people, at least 95 deaths have been confirmed. Mayor Alejandro Eder said 239 people were still trapped, with 949 injured and 45 buildings either fully or partially collapsed. A section of a hospital, including paediatric wards, collapsed, leaving some patients trapped. In the Calima neighbourhood, four children died when part of the Gimnasio Calima school fell, and 30 children were taken to care centres with injuries, according to Mayor Antonio Cadavid. A curfew has been ordered in the municipality from 20:00 local time until 06:00 on Wednesday to prevent looting.
In Pereira, the fire department reported 79 deaths. The city has declared a car-free day to facilitate rescue efforts, with hundreds of volunteers working to clear rubble. A resident near the city's airport described the scene to BBC Mundo: "It's impossible to get around the city center. In Bolívar Square, at least one building collapsed. Furthermore, there are structures where buses and trucks are trapped, and people are afraid those structures will collapse as well."
Manizales Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas said five people were killed there, with 60 buildings partially or totally collapsed. He urged the public to avoid sharing unverified information on social media, as it could cause unnecessary alarm.
International support has been offered, including from the United Nations, Spain, Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador, and Venezuela. The Trump administration announced a donation of $15.5 million to Colombia. Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares reported that 164 Spanish nationals were still missing, with no confirmed injuries or deaths among them.
Source: BBC News
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