Colombia rescue efforts press on after quake, death toll expected to rise

Rescue operations across western Colombia continued into a second day following the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country's coffee-growing heartland on Monday. The powerful tremor resulted in at least 164 deaths, with the death toll expected to rise. Cities like Pereira and Cali, known for their multi-story buildings, suffered significant damage, with many structures reduced to rubble.

In Cali, the capital of Colombia's Valle del Cauca department, at least 85 people lost their lives, and dozens of buildings were left precariously leaning or destroyed. Hospitals, including some dedicated to pediatric care, experienced partial collapses, leaving patients trapped and forcing some 600 others to receive treatment on the streets.

Rescue teams, supported by police, soldiers, and volunteers, worked tirelessly to locate survivors buried under debris. In Pereira, the capital of Risaralda state, 66 people were reported dead, with the city displaying visible destruction. Reports also indicated 13 deaths in the rural Choco province nearest to the earthquake's epicenter.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, who recently assumed office, stated that 35 people died in Cali alone, while 188 remained missing. He promised to deploy 1,000 security forces to Cali the following day following reports of looting. Curfews were implemented in Cali and Pereira on Monday night, with the president vowing to offer any necessary assistance.

The disaster has drawn comparisons to a catastrophic earthquake in 1999 that killed over 1,000 people in the same region and to quakes that claimed more than 6,300 lives in neighboring Venezuela in June.