Colombia Earthquake Rescue Enters Critical Phase as Death Toll Climbs

Rescue operations in western Colombia entered a critical phase on Wednesday, with teams working through the night in the rubble of cities like Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo. The urgency comes as the 72-hour window considered vital for finding survivors begins to close, though access to food and water could extend that timeline.

The 7.4 magnitude earthquake has killed at least 181 people and injured 2,595, according to President Abelardo de la Espriella. While the government puts the number of missing at 195, civilian databases suggest the figure could be closer to 4,000.

Amid the devastation, there have been moments of hope. Rescuers have pulled a dust-covered baby from a crack in a concrete wall, and crowds have cheered as a woman was lifted onto a stretcher.

The disaster is testing the new administration's ability to respond in a region already grappling with deep poverty and decades of armed conflict. Giovanni Rizzo, Colombia director for the Norwegian Refugee Council, said the earthquake compounds an already severe humanitarian situation.

However, the 2016 peace accord may be helping. María José Torres, the U.N. resident coordinator in Colombia, noted that aid organizations are already present in some conflict-affected areas, including Choco near the epicenter. This pre-existing presence, she said, has increased their ability to reach people quickly.

International support is also arriving. The United States has pledged over $15 million in aid, Mexico has offered search and health workers, and El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele said two planes carrying 100 tons of aid would depart in the coming days.