Colombia declares three days of mourning after deadly earthquake

Colombia is observing three days of national mourning after a powerful earthquake struck the country, leaving more than 200 dead and thousands injured. The government issued a decree for the period, during which the national flag will be flown at half-mast at public buildings and Colombian embassies and consulates abroad.

Rescue teams and volunteers continued their desperate search for survivors amidst the debris on Wednesday, three days after the quake. A glimmer of hope emerged with the rescue of Daniela Largo, 32, who was pulled alive from the ruins late Tuesday night to applause and cheers. Her mother, Sandra Milena Pérez, expressed relief, recounting how a neighbor's call alerted rescuers after hopes had begun to fade.

Nearly 48 hours after the 7.4 magnitude earthquake caused destruction in major cities across western Colombia, emergency crews are utilizing cranes, dogs, and heavy machinery. Volunteers are forming human chains to manually remove rubble. Experts warn that the critical window for finding survivors typically closes within 72 hours.

"With our hands, with gloves, we are working on this... It's sad to see that time is running out" to find people alive, said Pablo César Ruiz, a volunteer in Cali. On large piles of rubble, rescuers and volunteers pause, raise their fists, and call for silence to listen for signs of life, while anxious neighbors and relatives watch from the sidewalks.

The earthquake's impact has drawn parallels to the devastating 1999 earthquake that claimed nearly 1,200 lives in Colombia's coffee-growing region. The discovery of Largo, who is being awaited by her 12-year-old son, offered a moment of profound relief amidst the widespread tragedy.