Colombia in 'final phase' of quake search as deaths rise

Colombia's earthquake rescue operations have reached their concluding stage, as officials warned that the critical first 72 hours have ended. The powerful 7.4 magnitude tremor, the strongest to strike Colombia this century, has claimed 265 lives, injured over 3,500, and left nearly 500 people missing. In Pereira, rescue teams are concentrating on a collapsed bakery where a street vendor, Pablo Loaiza, has been trapped since Monday's quake.

Using vibration-detecting equipment, rescuers reportedly heard possible signs of life from Loaiza, prompting relatives to gather outside the rubble. "It could be him," exclaimed 16-year-old Sara Loaiza, referring to her uncle. He appeared to respond when asked to knock twice, then three times, eliciting applause from onlookers. As the rescue teams approach the 72-hour mark - a period when survivors are most likely to be found alive - Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder noted, "We're entering the final phase.

That doesn't mean there won't be survivors afterwards, but it's more difficult." In Cali and Pereira, emergency workers have prepared to work through a third night using bare hands, cranes, and sniffer dogs, placing their focus on listening for signs of life. Every half hour, they pause to ensure absolute silence, hoping to detect any living individuals.

To date, three people have been rescued alive, and three have been reported dead. President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared the disaster an economic emergency and announced three days of national mourning. He vowed, "We will do whatever is necessary to emerge again as a country and a society." Over 11,000 homes have been destroyed, leaving thousands of families homeless.

Many have spent consecutive nights outdoors due to damaged homes or fear of aftershocks. In El Cairo, a mountain town, residents gathered at community kitchens as power outages persisted, and many remained hesitant to return home. In Roldanillo, Yuliana Mendez sifted through the debris of her destroyed beauty products store, one of many businesses affected by the disaster.

"It's like starting over from scratch," she lamented. In Pereira's Providencia neighborhood, residents cleared out furniture and household items from their damaged buildings. Ana Paulina Crosthwaite, a lawyer, expressed her concern, saying, "We're not prepared to tell our children that we have to pack whatever we can and start a new life."

Thousands of Colombians have rallied to provide assistance, bringing water, food, and supplies to affected neighborhoods. Long lines formed outside blood donation centers, reflecting the community's desire to support one another.