Colombia quake death toll hits 181 as rescuers scramble to find survivors

International

BENEATH the rubble of western Colombia, rescuers are searching for signs of life after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake killed at least 181 people and left nearly 200 others missing.

The earthquake struck at 07:34 local time on Monday (12:34 GMT), sending tremors across hundreds of miles of western Colombia. More than 70 aftershocks have since been recorded, with further tremors reported on Tuesday, adding to concerns over already damaged buildings.

President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency as emergency teams continued operations in some of the worst-hit areas. Speaking from Pereira, he said nearly 2,600 people had been injured, while almost 200 remained missing.

More than 1,100 homes had been destroyed and another 8,000 damaged, he added.

The official death toll stood at 181, although figures compiled from local authorities put the number of fatalities at more than 240. Cali and Pereira have reported the largest number of deaths.

In Cali, where authorities have confirmed 95 fatalities, Mayor Alejandro Eder said 239 people remained trapped, 949 had been injured and 45 buildings had partially or completely collapsed.

Rescue efforts have focused on damaged residential areas, hospitals and schools. Several upper floors of a hospital, including paediatric wards, collapsed, leaving some patients trapped.

Four children also died after part of the Gimnasio Calima school in northern Cali gave way, while 30 children were taken to care centres, according to municipal mayor Antonio Cadavid.

Authorities have imposed an overnight curfew in parts of Cali to prevent looting as residents in several cities spent the night outdoors, either because their homes had been destroyed or for fear of further collapses.

In Pereira, where the fire department reported 79 deaths, a car-free day has been introduced to ease access for emergency vehicles. Footage from the city showed hundreds of volunteers helping search teams clear rubble.

In Manizales, Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas said five people had died and 60 buildings had partially or totally collapsed. He urged residents to avoid sharing unverified messages and social media posts, warning that false information could fuel further concern and alarm.

International offers of assistance have come from the United Nations, Spain, Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador and Venezuela, while the Donald Trump administration announced a $15.5m donation to support Colombia’s response.(MyTVCebu)