Race to reach trapped survivor offers hope in Colombia quake zone

In the earthquake-stricken coffee region of Colombia, rescuers are engaged in a desperate operation to free a man discovered alive beneath the rubble of a collapsed hotel, offering a glimmer of hope nearly four days after a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the Andean nation.

The operation in Pereira has become the focal point of disaster response efforts, which are increasingly shifting from searching for survivors to clearing debris and accounting for the missing. Rescuers are working through a mound of concrete and metal, with hopes that one or two individuals might still be alive. The quake, which hit on Monday, toppled buildings and damaged infrastructure across western Colombia, from Buenaventura to Cali and Pereira.

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Possibly there are (still) people alive, we believe so.

Authorities confirmed on Friday morning that the death toll had risen to 285, with nearly 4,000 people injured and approximately 400 still unaccounted for. The scale of destruction is immense, with tens of thousands of homes damaged or destroyed, forcing many Colombians to seek shelter or remain in precarious conditions.

The United Nations refugee agency cautioned that the earthquake could exacerbate displacement in a country already grappling with conflict and migration. UNHCR spokesperson Eujin Byun noted that the disaster risks adding "another displacement on top of displacement" for those already rebuilding their lives. Meanwhile, the World Bank announced it has disbursed $200 million to aid Colombia's response efforts. The disaster marks a significant early test for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office shortly before the quake.

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For internally displaced people and refugees who are already trying to rebuild their lives, this earthquake risks becoming another displacement on top of displacement.