Mexican couple missing in Colombia after 7.4 magnitude earthquake; family and Embassy alert authorities

A Mexican couple visiting Colombia's Eje Cafetero region has disappeared following a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the country on August 10. Mario Zapata and his wife, Brenda Flores, were staying at the Hotel Dibeni in Pereira when the devastating tremor hit.

Their daughter, Mariela Zapata, last communicated with her father before the earthquake to confirm their return flights. She has not heard from them since the disaster unfolded. "I told him I would check the tickets and went to my cell phone to check social media. The very first thing that came out was the news of the earthquake. I tried to communicate with him and her immediately, but I haven't heard anything from them since that moment," Mariela Zapata told 'RCN Noticias'.

The earthquake has resulted in a significant death toll, with 287 fatalities, 3,975 injuries, and 378 people reported missing, according to the latest figures from the UNGRD. The Mexican Embassy has been alerted and is involved in the search efforts for the couple.