Colombia searches for over 3,000 missing after a powerful quake kills more than 170

Search and rescue operations are underway in western Colombia after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck, leaving more than 3,000 people missing and many feared buried under collapsed buildings. The quake, which hit on Monday, has claimed at least 179 lives across the cities of Cali, Pereira, Choco, and Manizales, according to local officials. The federal government's latest figures, however, place the death toll at 111.

Around 1,600 buildings have been reported damaged or destroyed. In Pereira, Jairo Vargas traveled from Medellin hoping to find his brother alive in the rubble of his apartment building. "I'm absolutely certain he's here. Absolutely certain," Vargas said, though he fears the worst as the sounds from the debris have ceased.

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I’m absolutely certain he’s here. Absolutely certain.

Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, who was inaugurated just days prior, traveled to Quibdo, the capital of the Choco region, to oversee the response. He announced the mobilization of the "entire military and police apparatus" and pledged to end the neglect of the Choco region, often referred to as the "land of the forgotten."

The earthquake presents the first major challenge for de la Espriella, a divisive figure known for his tough stance on criminal groups. Meanwhile, desperate families are posting information about missing loved ones on citizen-run websites, seeking any news amidst the devastation.

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Choco will never again be the ‘land of the forgotten.’