Colombia earthquake: Rescue operation enters 'final phase'
Rescuers are racing against a critical 72-hour window to find survivors after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that has killed 265 people, left hundreds missing, and displaced tens of thousands across western Colombia.
As the 72-hour window since Colombia's devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake drew to a close, rescue teams intensified their efforts to locate survivors amid mounting urgency. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder declared, "We're entering the final phase," warning that the odds of finding more survivors dwindled with each passing minute. President Abelardo de la Espriella reported the death toll had risen to 265, with 3,500 injured and nearly 500 people still unaccounted for.
Over 25,800 families were affected, and more than 4,100 were missing, according to a crowdsourced tracking site. Volunteer rescuer Johana Sanchez recounted teams pausing every 30 minutes to listen for signs of life. Rescue operations faced challenges in the remote, conflict-torn Choco region, where lost cell service hampered damage assessment.
The Colombian government declared an economic emergency and three days of national mourning, pledging funds to rebuild infrastructure. Experts warned of potential future seismic activity in Colombia's fault lines.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
