Colombia rescuers cling to hope as quake survival window closes

In the western regions of Colombia, including Cali and Pereira, rescue efforts are intensifying as the crucial 72-hour period for finding earthquake survivors begins to close. The magnitude 7.4 quake, the most powerful to strike the nation this century, has tragically resulted in 265 fatalities and left more than 3,500 injured. Authorities report approximately 500 individuals are still unaccounted for.

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Hope is the last thing you lose

Emergency crews have been working tirelessly for three consecutive nights, using basic tools and sniffer dogs, pausing only to listen for any signs of life. Volunteers like Valeria Cardona Torres, 26, continue the search for loved ones, holding onto hope despite the grim reality. Torres is searching for two cousins believed to be trapped in a collapsed building in Cali, expressing anxiety over potential news.

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We haven’t found them. We have indications of where they might be, but there are no signs of life.

The earthquake's impact is widespread, with over 11,000 homes destroyed, rendering thousands of families homeless. Many residents are spending nights outdoors, fearing further aftershocks and dealing with damaged properties. Javier Alzate, a 79-year-old psychologist, described the distress of seeing his home, acquired after decades of hard work, reduced to rubble.

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We are anxious about hearing news that we do not want to hear

President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a state of "economic emergency" and mandated three days of national mourning. He pledged the government's commitment to recovery, stating, "We will do what is necessary... to emerge again as a country and as a society." However, challenges persist, including structural damage complicating rescue operations and the need to assess remote communities, particularly Indigenous settlements, where conditions remain unverified. Some hospitals, like one in Choco, are operating far beyond capacity.

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We are making progress