Colombia searches for missing after earthquake kills more than 100

BOGOTA, Colombia - Rescue operations commenced early Tuesday in multiple cities and towns across western Colombia following a devastating earthquake that struck the region on Monday, resulting in over 100 fatalities and many others trapped beneath collapsed structures. The 7.4 magnitude earthquake specifically impacted Cali, Quibdo, Pereira, and numerous other locales.

Reports indicate that approximately 1,600 buildings suffered damage or complete destruction. Military personnel, rescue teams, and relatives meticulously combed through the debris, carefully extracting and transporting large concrete fragments down lines of volunteers. President Abelardo de la Espriella confirmed on Monday that at least 111 individuals had lost their lives due to the disaster.

As night fell on Monday, the number of missing persons surged past 2,700, with family members utilizing citizen-driven websites to disseminate information about their loved ones who were unaccounted for. Dana Carolina Zamora shared a photograph of her 60-year-old uncle, Miguel Ángel Zamora, holding his dog, signaling his absence.

Miguel resided in a rural community near the epicenter of the quake, specifically in El Cairo, a town of roughly 7,000 inhabitants situated close to the earthquake's focal point in San Jose Del Palmar. Local authorities reported that an overwhelming 80% of El Cairo, including the surrounding area, had been severely affected by the earthquake.