Hopes fade in Colombia as critical window to find quake survivors shuts

The death toll from a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia has reached 281, according to The Times of Israel, while other sources report 273. Over 3,800 people have been injured and around 377-379 are still missing. The earthquake devastated the western cities of Cali and Pereira, damaging nearly 13,000 homes across Colombia's coffee-growing region and coastal areas.

Thousands of families who lost their homes are sheltering in makeshift camps in Cali, with some setting up tents in streets and parks. One 72-year-old woman, Maria Rodriguez, lost her apartment and is now sleeping in a football field with her 76-year-old husband. She expressed uncertainty about what assistance she will receive and whether she will be relocated.

The critical 72-hour window for finding survivors has passed, with rescue teams continuing to search through the rubble. The earthquake is considered the strongest to hit Colombia this century, and authorities are grappling with the scale of the disaster.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Times of Israel, The Vibes, Free Malaysia Today — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.