Colombian rescue workers are racing against time to find survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings after a powerful earthquake struck the country’s western region, killing more than 200 people and leaving hundreds missing. The 7.4-magnitude quake struck at 7.34am on Monday, with Cali, Pereira and other cities in the country’s coffee-growing region among the worst affected.
Get breaking news anytime, anywhere. Download the TOI app now!
Rescue teams have continued searching through the rubble more than a day after the earthquake, with several people pulled alive from collapsed buildings. In Cali, firefighters rescued a 35-year-old man shortly before 4am on Tuesday, nearly 24 hours after the quake struck. “We have found life under the debris … Every minute counts,” the fire department said in a post on X alongside a video of the rescue.
Later on Tuesday, firefighters rescued a 31-year-old woman, identified as Diana Troncoso, after a 16-hour operation. Her father, Álvaro Troncoso Torres, watched as she was brought out of the ruins. “Getting out of there is a miracle,” he told local newspaper El País. Civilians also reportedly pulled at least five survivors from a partly collapsed hotel, offering brief moments of hope amid the devastation.
Rescue efforts continue as cities struggle with devastation
Cali has recorded dozens of deaths, while emergency responders have been working through the ruins of buildings that completely collapsed. Mayor Alejandro Eder said 37 people had been rescued from 40 collapsed buildings. Authorities have also reported thousands of damaged or destroyed homes across the region.
In Pereira, about 130 miles north of Cali, the situation has been similarly severe. More than 50 people were reportedly trapped in collapsed buildings, while the city's death toll has risen above 70. Mayor Mauricio Salazar broke down in tears while describing the scale of the disaster and said local hospitals were struggling to cope with the number of injured people.
Manizales has also suffered significant damage, with around 60 buildings reported to have suffered total or partial collapse. Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas said about 2,000 people had been affected in the city, with the number expected to rise. Thousands of requests for assessments of damaged homes have also been received.
The earthquake is Colombia's deadliest since a 6.2-magnitude quake devastated parts of the same western coffee-growing region in January 1999, killing more than 1,000 people.
More than 70 aftershocks have been recorded since Monday's earthquake, according to Colombia's Geological Service. A magnitude 3.8 aftershock was among the latest to be felt across several cities. Authorities warned that aftershocks could continue for days, weeks or even months.
Government announces relief for affected families
The disaster has also become an immediate test for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office only days before the earthquake. He has toured several affected cities and promised government support for families who have lost their homes.
During a visit to Pereira, de la Espriella ordered the housing ministry to provide three months of economic relief on public services for people affected in Risaralda. The measure means affected households will not have to pay their utility bills during the period.
Families whose homes have been destroyed will also receive financial assistance to rent temporary accommodation, while the government will assess the cost of repairs and reconstruction at a later stage.
“The affected families are not alone,” de la Espriella said in a series of posts, promising that the government would remain in the affected areas and mobilise resources to help communities recover.
India has also offered assistance. External affairs minister S Jaishankar expressed condolences to the families of those killed and injured and said India was ready to extend “all possible assistance” to Colombia.
