처참한 콜롬비아 2700명 실종 등록…“갇힌 사람 너무 많아 구조 역부족”

On October 10th, a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia's southwest, devastating the cities of Pereira, Cali, and Manizales. The quake left buildings leaning precariously and damaged parts of the Cali airport roof. Some residents set up tents outside damaged homes overnight. In Manizales, a part of a neoclassical cathedral's side tower collapsed.

In Cali, assistance from local TV station Teve was needed as buildings collapsed like they were hit by a bomb. Officials noted that rescue efforts were overwhelmed by the large number of trapped people. The earthquake's impact extended to Colombia's third-largest city Cali, as well as coffee-producing regions, the coastal city of Manizales, and western hubs like Quibdo and Armenia.

Due to slow arrival of heavy equipment and the presence of jungle regions, accurate assessment of damage has been delayed. Over 175 deaths have been reported, with over 2,700 people listed as missing in online search platforms. Colombian President Abelardo Moreno Vespa declared a national emergency, prioritizing rescue efforts, and ordered the immediate deployment of all national resources.

Colombian seismologist Juan Bernardo del Rio stated that the quake occurred deep in the Earth's crust, which is unusual for an earthquake of this magnitude. This is the third major earthquake in Colombia, following a 6.2 magnitude quake in 1999 that killed over 1,000. As Venezuela's death toll from the earthquake reached 6,301, residents in Colombia and Venezuela alike are experiencing growing anxiety.