Colombia earthquake rescue enters critical phase as casualty figures disputed

Rescue teams in western Colombia were working through a third day of search operations on Wednesday following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck on Monday, with efforts concentrated in the cities of Pereira and Cali as authorities raced against what they described as a critical survival window.

The earthquake, described by The Japan Times as the strongest to hit Colombia this century, caused widespread building collapses across western Colombia. According to ABC News Australia, approximately 1,600 buildings were reported damaged or destroyed.

Colombian authorities declared the rescue operation's 'final phase' on Wednesday, according to The Japan Times, as the critical first 72 hours since the quake drew to a close. In Pereira, crews concentrated their efforts on a collapsed bakery where a street vendor trapped since Monday was believed by rescuers to still be alive beneath the rubble.

Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder, quoted by ABC News Australia, said rescue teams were still finding signs of life under debris. 'The next 20 hours are the most critical to find and rescue people alive,' he said. 'Every minute is vital.' Bogotá fire department official Camilo Cano, also speaking from Cali, said rescuers maintained hope 'until at least four days after the earthquake have passed.'

Schools and sports arenas have been converted into temporary shelters in the worst-affected regions, according to ABC News Australia, amid concern over where displaced residents will go. Roads in Pereira were reported choked with traffic following the quake, with power outages disabling traffic signals.

The Colombian government declared three days of national mourning, according to ABC News Australia. The disaster is also testing the administration of President Abelardo de la Espriella, who according to ABC News Australia was sworn in only days before the earthquake struck.

In Pereira, bakery owner Juliana Maya told ABC News Australia she and more than a dozen co-workers were inside when the quake hit. 'At one point the entire bakery collapsed,' she said, adding that her elderly in-laws, whose home formed part of the same building, had been left with nothing. Pereira resident Walter Arroyave recounted spending over two and a half hours unable to reach his wife before learning through others that she was safe.

Where sources differ

• Death toll: The Japan Times reports 265 killed, while ABC News Australia reports the toll as passing 250, with the Colombian government's declaration of mourning referencing 'more than 250.'
• Missing persons: The Japan Times cites local authorities putting the missing at almost 500. ABC News Australia reports President de la Espriella said around 200 remained missing, but notes a civilian-run database puts the figure at more than 4,000. The two sources do not reconcile these figures.

• The precise and agreed death toll and missing persons count have not been established; official government figures, local authority figures, and civilian databases diverge significantly.
• The identity and current status of the street vendor reportedly trapped alive beneath the Pereira bakery rubble are not confirmed by either source.
• The cause of the discrepancy between official missing persons figures (around 200 per the president, almost 500 per local authorities) and the civilian database figure of more than 4,000 is not explained.
• The extent of international assistance or any formal requests for foreign aid are not addressed by either source.
• The medical situation of Cali resident Abraham Gutierrez's mother, described as hospitalised with cancer-related mobility issues before the quake, is left unresolved in the available source text.
• No response or comment from President de la Espriella specifically on rescue operations or the missing persons discrepancy is quoted directly in either source.

1. The Japan Times — original — by The Japan Times
2. ABC News Australia — by Emilie Gramenz

Read the original at The Japan Times

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