Colombia Earthquake: Death Toll Rises to 169 as Rescuers Search for Survivors Amid Rubble

Colombia is grappling with the aftermath of a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the western part of the country, leaving a trail of destruction and a rising death toll. As of the latest reports, at least 169 people have died, with over 900 injured and an estimated 2,000 still missing. Rescue teams are working against the clock, sifting through the debris of collapsed buildings in a desperate search for survivors.

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My hope is to find someone alive, to do as much as possible.

The quake, which hit on Monday morning, significantly impacted major cities in western Colombia, including Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, and Buenaventura. Pereira, located in the popular Coffee Axis region, appears to be the hardest-hit city, reporting at least 60 fatalities. The city experienced widespread power outages, with residents navigating the darkness using flashlights.

Juana Marín, a 25-year-old marketer assisting in rescue efforts in Pereira, described the scene as "horrible" and "heartbreaking." "I feel defeated. It's too sad to see the whole city like this, knowing that there are still people alive down there," she told AFP, her voice filled with emotion as she helped clear rubble from the main square.

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It's horrible. Everyone is doing their part, it doesn't matter that it's already night.

In Cali, the country's third-largest city, Mayor Alejandro Eder imposed a curfew as rescue operations intensified. The city has reported 85 deaths and at least 885 injuries. The scale of destruction is immense, with one rescuer, Nelson Moreno, describing the scene as "the end of the world" with cars and motorcycles speeding in the wrong direction as people desperately searched for loved ones.

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Too distressing, I have no words for everything that is happening right now. We are trying to clear the rubble because all the lottery vendors were here.

The earthquake has brought back painful memories of the 1999 quake that devastated the coffee region, killing nearly 1,200 people. Newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a state of emergency and pledged to coordinate a comprehensive rescue operation.

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I feel defeated. It's too sad to see the whole city like this, knowing that there are still people alive down there.