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Final 72 Hours
Rescue efforts in Colombia moved into what officials called the “final phase” as the critical 72-hour window neared its end after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday.
““We’re entering the final phase,” Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said”
In Cali and Pereira, emergency crews worked through a third night with bare hands, cranes and sniffer dogs while the death toll reached 265 and the number of missing rose to nearly 500, according to local authorities.
Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said, “We’re entering the final phase,” adding that “it is more difficult,” as families waited for news of relatives trapped under collapsed buildings.
In Pereira, crews focused on a collapsed bakery where they believed a street vendor trapped since Monday’s earthquake may still be alive beneath the rubble, with rescuers using equipment that detects vibrations.
At the same time, President Abelardo de La Espriella promised to establish an emergency fund to help rebuild hospitals, schools, homes and infrastructure destroyed by the earthquake.
Missing, Injured, and Hope
The quake’s toll varied by outlet and timing, with one report citing 265 deaths, more than 3,500 injuries and nearly 500 missing, while another said the government update listed 265 dead, 3,824 injured and 377 missing.
In Cali, Martha Pérez told AFP she felt “helpless” as two relatives were thought to still be trapped under rubble, while volunteer rescuer Fernando Loaiza said, “We will hold on to [hope] until the very end.”
In Pereira, 16-year-old Sara Loaiza said, “My heart is about to burst out of my chest,” after rescuers picked up possible signs of life from Pablo Loaiza.
Volunteer rescuer Johana Sánchez described the rhythm of the search, telling AFP, “Every half hour we make everyone be quiet to see if we can find people alive.”
As the search narrowed, the CBS News account said the Colombian National Unit for Disaster Risk Management reported 273 killed, injured more than 3,800 and left almost 400 missing, while civilian-run databases put missing at more than 4,100.
Reconstruction and Aid
Beyond the search, the disaster response shifted toward rebuilding, with President Abelardo de la Espriella declaring an “economic emergency” and announcing three days of national mourning.
“De la Espriella has declared the disaster an "economic emergency"”
The government has estimated the quake destroyed more than 12,500 homes, and one report said more than 11,000 dwellings have been destroyed and thousands of families have been rendered homeless.
In Chocó, the UNGRD update described 273 dead, 3,826 injured, and 348 rescued, along with 40,753 families and 97,515 people affected, while also listing 75,654 homes damaged and 12,563 destroyed.
International aid was also described as advancing, with the United States announcing $15.5 million in emergency aid to Colombia and the European Union pledging $2.3 million.
At the same time, officials pushed back on criticism over foreign assistance selection, with Foreign Minister Omar Bula saying, “We have not excluded any country whatsoever, in terms of the offers made to us.”
