Race to reach trapped survivor offers hope in Colombia quake zone

Rescuers in Colombia were making a frantic effort to rescue a man trapped alive after a massive earthquake struck the coffee-region city of Pereira. The 7.4-magnitude tremor hit early Monday, causing widespread damage and leaving hundreds dead or missing. The rescue operation at the site in Pereira was now the main focus of the disaster response, shifting from the search for survivors to clearing debris and accounting for the missing.

Rescuer John Bedoya told Caracol Television that there was still a possibility that one or two people might still be alive among the rubble. The quake's epicenter was in San Jose del Palmar, Choco department. Initial reports stated that 285 people had been killed, with nearly 4,000 injured and nearly 400 still missing. Tens of thousands of homes were damaged, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.

The UN refugee agency warned that the earthquake could displace more people, as the country is already dealing with conflict and other humanitarian pressures. President Abelardo De La Espriella is set to visit several affected areas to assess the situation and address the growing criticism of his initial response.