Colombian Army deploys over 180 rescuers to search for earthquake victims

More than 180 Colombian soldiers have been deployed as rescue teams to search for survivors trapped beneath the debris of buildings devastated by a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake. The tremor struck central and western Colombia on Monday, leaving at least 111 people dead and causing widespread destruction.

The soldiers, organized into five platoons, are being mobilized from military bases in Bogotá and Tolemaida. Three platoons are heading to the coffee-growing region, one of the areas hardest hit by the quake. Another platoon will focus on the Chocó department, the earthquake's epicenter in the Pacific region, while the final platoon is assigned to Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca, which has reported at least 15 deaths and 380 injuries.

These specialized rescue units are equipped with advanced technology to aid their critical mission. Drones, thermal cameras, motion sensors, tripods, stretchers, and debris removal tools are among the equipment provided to the teams. The earthquake, which occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time, had its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó, at a depth of 103 kilometers. It caused damage across a large part of the country's center and west.

Initial government reports indicate 111 fatalities, 87 injuries, 1,575 damaged homes, 37 completely destroyed residences, and 61 collapsed buildings. President Abelardo De la Espriella made his first public statement on the disaster from Bogotá, emphasizing the ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.