콜롬비아 여진 130차례…골든타임 ‘72시간 앞’ 사흘 째 수색

Colombia experienced a series of 130 aftershocks following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake, leaving 265 people dead and 3494 injured. The Colombian government has declared a three-day period of national mourning to commemorate the victims, with the government headquarters and foreign offices draped in mourning. President Juan Manuel Santos expressed condolences to the families of the deceased, emphasizing that the loss affects not only their immediate families and friends but the entire nation.

According to Colombian authorities, there are still many people trapped in collapsed buildings, with the death toll expected to rise further. The search efforts are in their final stage, with the government referring to this as the "golden 72 hours" – the first 72 hours after the earthquake when survivors have the highest chance of being rescued.

The danger arises from the fact that aftershocks ranging from magnitude 0.6 to 4.8 have continued for 130 times since the initial earthquake. Despite the ongoing rescue operation, some families remain hopeful, with survivors such as 32-year-old Daniel Largo being pulled from the debris after 36 hours in the city of Cali. In other parts of the country, residents have also found infants and men trapped under rubble, with rescue efforts still in progress.

The Colombian government has mobilized resources for recovery and rebuilding, with President Alvaro Uribe declaring a national disaster and also declaring a state of emergency to expedite funding. The international community has also offered assistance, with the United States providing $15.5 million in emergency aid, while Mexico is preparing to deploy 255 rescue personnel and 20 detection dogs, and El Salvador has sent 100 tons of humanitarian aid.