Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Reaches 265 As Rescue Teams Race To Find Survivors
At least 265 people have died after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, as rescue teams continue searching collapsed buildings for survivors while widespread infrastructure damage hampers relief efforts.
The earthquake struck on Monday morning, with its epicentre located near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region. The powerful tremor caused extensive damage across parts of western Colombia, including collapsed buildings, damaged roads and disruption to essential services.
According to Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, at least 3,494 people have been injured. Rescue workers have been operating in affected communities as families continue to wait for information about relatives who may remain trapped beneath the rubble.
Rescue operations have become increasingly urgent as crews work against time to reach people who may still be alive beneath collapsed structures, with aftershocks and unstable buildings adding further risks to the operation.
The scale of the destruction has also created major difficulties for emergency services. Roads, tunnels and bridges were damaged, while power, mobile phone and internet outages have disrupted communications in several affected areas. The United Nations said damage to infrastructure and transportation was actively hindering humanitarian relief operations in some of the hardest hit locations.
Several airports have also experienced disruption. Matecaña International Airport in Pereira was closed, while the airport in Popayán was affected by instability associated with the Puracé volcanic system. Commercial flights at Santa Ana Airport in Cartago were also cancelled, with delays reported at other airports.
The disaster has prompted an international response as assistance begins reaching affected communities. Rescue and humanitarian teams from other countries have joined Colombian authorities, while aid organisations continue assessing the needs of people who have lost homes and access to basic services.
The United States Embassy in Colombia issued a natural disaster alert on Wednesday, saying American diplomats were responding to reports involving affected US citizens and monitoring airport and road closures.
Colombia's newly installed President Abelardo De La Espriella declared a national emergency as the government coordinated the response. The earthquake has created a major early test for the new administration, which took office only days before the disaster.
Rescuers have continued to find survivors despite the worsening conditions. In one dramatic operation, a 32 year old woman was rescued after spending nearly 38 hours trapped beneath the remains of a collapsed building in Pereira. Her rescue provided a moment of relief amid the wider devastation.
Authorities are now moving between urgent search and rescue operations and the beginning of a much larger recovery effort. Thousands of people have been affected by damaged homes and disrupted services, while emergency crews continue assessing buildings and infrastructure for further dangers.
The coming days are expected to remain critical as rescue teams search remaining collapsed structures and authorities work to restore transport, communications and essential services across affected parts of western Colombia.
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