Colombia Earthquake: Death Toll Surpasses 200 as Rescue Teams Dig Through Rubble
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia has killed over 200 people, with rescue teams racing to find survivors amid widespread destruction.
Rescue workers in western Colombia are in a desperate race against time, digging through collapsed buildings with heavy machinery and bare hands, following a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country's coffee-growing heartland on Monday. Local authorities now estimate the death toll has surpassed 200, a figure that is expected to rise as communication is restored in the most remote areas.
The quake, the most powerful to hit Colombia in decades, has left a trail of destruction, flattening homes, schools, and hospitals. In the city of Cali, a hospital partially collapsed, trapping patients and forcing hundreds of others to be treated on the streets. In Pereira, one of the hardest-hit cities, entire residential blocks have been reduced to rubble, with residents forming human chains to clear debris and listening for any signs of life beneath the wreckage.
Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara stated that the immediate focus is on saving lives, deploying rescue teams, and ensuring medical supplies and field hospitals reach the affected zones. The United Nations humanitarian office has confirmed at least 126 deaths and nearly 1,500 injuries, but local tallies suggest the true scale of the disaster is much larger.
The earthquake has also severely damaged infrastructure, leading to the closure of six airports and disrupting roads, electricity, water, and phone services. The Choco region, near the epicenter, remains particularly isolated, complicating aid delivery. Emergency command centers have been activated, and humanitarian agencies are rushing to provide shelter, food, and clean water to the thousands displaced.
International support is beginning to arrive, with the United States pledging $15.5 million for emergency relief and the Inter-American Development Bank making $50 million available for reconstruction. Officials warn that with communications still patchy, the full extent of the damage and the final death toll may not be known for several days.