Colombia earthquake death toll reaches 265 as rescue operations shift toward debris removal

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia shortly after 7:30 a.m. local time on Monday has killed at least 265 people, according to authorities, with rescue teams in cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó working through rubble by Thursday in dwindling hopes of finding survivors alive. The quake toppled apartment blocks and damaged homes, schools and hospitals across the region, affecting more than 25,800 families, according to President Abelardo de la Espriella.

The earthquake is described by the Associated Press as the most powerful to strike Colombia in this century. More than 150 aftershocks had been recorded since the main quake by Thursday, according to The Straits Times, adding strain on survivors and risks for rescue workers moving through unstable debris.

Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours after an earthquake the prime window for retrieving survivors alive, though that period can be extended if those trapped have access to food and water, according to both AP and NPR. By Thursday, crews in Cali had begun shifting from active search-and-rescue to debris removal at most sites, The Straits Times reported, indicating the response was entering a later phase.

Volunteer rescuer Daiana Rojas, 25, told AP that her team had been hearing sounds since 2:30 a.m. and remained hopeful that two people might still be alive at one site. She said she had witnessed two survivors pulled from debris as well as the recovery of bodies. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder told reporters Wednesday that rescue teams continued to find signs of life under rubble, saying the following 20 hours were 'the most critical to find and rescue people alive.'

In Pereira, Enrique Marin told Reuters, as cited by The Straits Times, that he drove more than 10 hours from Bogota after learning his mother was trapped. He said she was rescued six hours after the quake with vital signs but died on the way to hospital. He said the only item he could recover from the house was a bicycle from his childhood.

NPR reported that by Tuesday, de la Espriella said at least 181 people had been killed and 2,595 injured, with at least 195 reported missing — figures that were lower than those cited later in the week. By Wednesday, authorities reported the death toll had reached 265. Small rescues had occurred in the interim, including, according to NPR, the recovery of a dust-covered baby pulled through a crack in a concrete wall.

President de la Espriella, who took office just days before the disaster, announced Wednesday that he would declare an economic emergency and establish a reconstruction fund to channel domestic and international aid toward rebuilding hospitals, schools, homes and infrastructure, according to The Straits Times. AP noted the disaster has been a significant test for his administration as it scrambles to coordinate relief efforts.

Colombian officials pushed back against criticism over the handling of foreign assistance, saying the government had not rejected any country's offer but would only accept international search-and-rescue teams meeting recognised certification standards, The Straits Times reported.

Where sources differ

• The number of missing persons differs significantly by source and by date: President de la Espriella cited approximately 500 missing as of Wednesday (AP and The Straits Times), while civilian-run databases put that figure at more than 4,200 (AP) or closer to 4,000 (NPR). NPR also cited an earlier government figure of at least 195 missing as of Tuesday.
• AP describes the missing figure from civilian databases as 'more than 4,200,' while NPR describes a similar civilian database figure as 'closer to 4,000,' a minor numerical discrepancy between the two outlets.

• The sources do not establish a definitive, reconciled figure for the number of people missing; the large discrepancy between official government numbers and civilian-run databases is noted but not explained.
• The sources do not identify which countries or organisations offered international search-and-rescue assistance, nor which were accepted or declined on certification grounds.
• The sources do not detail the specific certification standards that international rescue teams are required to meet.
• The sources do not establish the total number of buildings collapsed or the extent of infrastructure damage beyond general descriptions.
• The final outcome for the two people Rojas believed might still be alive is not established in any source.
• France 24's source article contained no usable text beyond a headline and media embeds, so no additional facts could be drawn from it.
• Independent verification of the civilian-run missing-persons database figures (4,000–4,200) is not provided by any source.

1. Associated Press — original — by Astrid Suárez
2. The Straits Times — by The Straits Times
3. France 24 — by https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English
4. NPR News

Read the original at Associated Press

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