Colombia earthquake death toll nears 300 as hopes fade

Hopes of finding survivors of the earthquake that struck western Colombia five days ago were dwindling on Saturday, as more bodies were pulled from buildings that collapsed due to the 7.4-magnitude quake that left hundreds dead or missing. The earthquake struck just after 7:30 a.m. in San Jose del Palmar, toppling apartment buildings and damaging schools, churches, hospitals and homes from the Pacific port of Buenaventura to Colombia's coffee-growing region and major western cities. Around 290 people have died, with 140 more missing and nearly 4,000 more injured, according to official estimates late on Saturday. More than two-thirds of the deaths were concentrated in the cities of Cali and Pereira. "We have only one site where there are signs of life," Cali fire captain Alberto Hernandez told Reuters. "At the other locations, we are unfortunately in the phase of recovering bodies." Hernandez said they would likely finish recovering bodies by Sunday, after which they will begin using heavy equipment to clear the debris. "Even though the 72-hour mark has passed, we're going to keep working relentlessly and without rest, as if those 70 people (still missing) were still alive," Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder told a press conference. "Miracles do happen." Hundreds sleep outdoors, with thousands of people gathered in the cities of Medellin and Bogota to donate food, clothing and medicine to distribution centers in areas devastated by the quake. In the city of Pereira, deep in Colombia's coffee-growing region, hundreds of people spent the night on mats or in tents at a makeshift shelter in a park.

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We have only one site where there are signs of life. At the other locations, we are unfortunately in the phase of recovering bodies.