Colombia scrambles to find survivors as quake kills 240

On Tuesday, rescue workers and volunteers in Colombia scoured rubble searching for survivors from a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck several cities in the western coffee-growing region and Pacific belt on Monday morning. The quake, the strongest in a century and one of the country's deadliest natural disasters in years, left at least 240 dead and over 1,300 injured.

More than a hundred homes and office buildings were reduced to rubble, leaving many residents without electricity or shelter. The hardest-hit city, Pereira, with a population of over half a million, experienced widespread destruction and panic as residents slept on the streets fearing aftershocks or damaged homes. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency and promised rent subsidies for affected individuals.

Colombian volunteers, some armed with basic tools, joined rescuers in forming human chains to remove debris, carefully listening for signs of life from those trapped beneath. In Cali, a makeshift crew of volunteers worked tirelessly to save as many people as possible, with one rescuer reporting that someone whistled back, leading to the successful rescue of a man and a baby.

Hospitals in five Colombian cities were placed on red alert, and a nighttime curfew was declared in Cali. The quake was felt across Colombia, including the capital Bogota, and neighboring countries like Ecuador and Panama, highlighting the devastating impact of the natural disaster.