Colombia earthquake: Rescue efforts shift to clearing debris as survivor hopes fade

Nearly a week after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake devastated parts of Colombia, rescue operations are transitioning to clearing debris. The quake, the deadliest in the country this century, has claimed nearly 300 lives and reduced thousands of homes, buildings, hotels, and hospitals to rubble.

While the noise of heavy machinery now replaces the silence of rescue efforts, the chances of finding survivors are slim. In Cali, a five-story building that collapsed has been marked with a "V" sign, indicating the end of search operations. However, volunteer rescuers refuse to give up.

"Even though they've told us many days have passed, we continue searching for life because we want to keep betting on life," said Juan Carlos Tabares, a 58-year-old professor leading the "Valentía" rescue point. Official estimates suggest that survival chances drop significantly after 72 hours, with about a hundred people still missing.

In Cali, the hardest-hit city, a woman continues searching for her dog, Lucky, who some neighbors believe is trapped alive in the rubble. Rescue teams are using special microphones to search for the animal. Meanwhile, the mayor of Cali estimates that rebuilding the city will cost at least $3.2 billion, with Colombia receiving significant aid from countries like the United States and organizations like the World Bank.