Colombia declares emergency as earthquake death toll reaches 164
The death toll from a magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia has risen to 164, with authorities warning the number of victims could increase sharply.
Military personnel and emergency crews are searching through collapsed buildings, holding onto hope that more survivors remain trapped beneath the rubble. Government officials have declared a state of emergency to provide shelter for thousands who lost their homes within minutes.
Race against time
Nearly 24 hours after the quake struck at 07:34 local time, rescue workers continue operating around the clock.
Emergency responders extracted a young girl and another survivor from a destroyed apartment block early in the day. Search teams are currently attempting to reach an elderly woman and a child pinpointed under concrete slabs.
Surviving residents described sudden devastation across affected towns. One survivor noted returning 30 minutes after leaving his apartment to find the entire building reduced to dust.
Widespread destruction
In Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, officials confirmed at least 85 fatalities. The cities of Pereira and Chocó were also heavily impacted by the tremor.
"Approximately 5,000 homes have been damaged or destroyed, 35 people died locally, and around 700 are injured," stated Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella. He added that three hospitals collapsed entirely, 18 others sustained damage, and 188 people remain missing.
Neighboring nations Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama have dispatched emergency personnel to assist Colombian authorities.
Delcy Rodríguez, interim president of Venezuela, confirmed the deployment of rescue units from the Simón Bolívar Brigade to help retrieve trapped citizens.
The earthquake was centered near the coffee-growing region of Pereira and affected the Valle del Cauca region. The disaster comes less than two months after two major quakes struck northern Venezuela, causing over 6,300 deaths.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
