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.
Rescue teams in Colombia are in the final phase of their efforts to find survivors after a powerful earthquake struck the country. Mayor Alejandro Eder of Cali stated that while survivors may still be found, the odds of doing so are rapidly decreasing. The death toll has risen to 265, with 3,500 people injured and nearly 500 unaccounted for.
Over 25,800 families have been affected. The 7.4 magnitude quake, the strongest to hit Colombia in decades, struck near San Jose del Palmar in the northwestern Choco region on Monday. In Cali, volunteer rescuer Johana Sanchez reported three survivors pulled out alive and three deaths. One victim's family lost both their mother and 13-month-old daughter, who will be identified through DNA testing.
Thousands are homeless and sleeping in parks or emergency shelters due to aftershocks. Colombia's geological service has recorded 130 aftershocks since the quake. Response efforts have been challenging, particularly in the remote and impoverished Choco region. International aid has arrived from the United States, Mexico, and El Salvador, but more support is needed, according to the Norwegian Refugee Council.
The president declared an economic emergency and three days of national mourning, pledging to establish a fund for rebuilding. Seismologists warn of the possibility of more seismic activity in Colombia.
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