Race to reach trapped Colombia quake survivors offers hope

On Friday, rescue workers in Colombia scrambled to free survivors buried under rubble four days after a powerful earthquake devastated the Andean nation. The 7.4-magnitude quake, which struck on Monday, left 287 people dead and nearly 4,000 injured, with nearly 400 still missing. Cali and Pereira, Colombia's third-largest city and a major coffee-growing region, accounted for over two-thirds of the fatalities.

As rescue efforts continued, authorities shifted their focus to accounting for the missing and providing aid to the affected population. Venezuelan rescuers, who had recently helped their own country after a devastating quake, expressed hope that survivors may still be alive up to 10 days after the disaster. Rescue workers combed through the debris for personal items, such as photo albums and jewelry, to keep them safe until their owners were found.

The earthquake, which had its epicenter in San Jose del Palmar in the province of Choco, caused extensive damage to buildings, schools, and hospitals across western Colombia. As of Friday morning, operations had resumed in all but one airport. The UN refugee agency warned that the disaster could trigger further displacement in a country already grappling with conflict, migration, and other humanitarian pressures.

Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella, a political newcomer, vowed that reconstruction would happen regardless of political or ideological alignment, emphasizing that long-neglected communities should receive more investment.