Colombia Earthquake: Rescue Efforts Underway

Rescue workers and volunteers hastened to clear debris as they searched for survivors following Colombia’s most powerful earthquake on record. By Monday afternoon, reports confirmed the death of at least 132 people, with over 570 others injured. The Colombian Association of Capital Cities provided these figures, highlighting the quake’s impact.

As the situation unfolded, more than 2,700 individuals were reported missing. Families actively shared information about loved ones online, seeking any updates on their status. The earthquake, registering a magnitude of 7.4, struck Colombia’s western region around 7:30 a.m. local time. It drove panicked locals into the streets, with cities widely affected.

“We’re without power. This seems honestly like a zombie city,” resident Juan David Gaitan described the situation in Pereira, a city deeply affected by the quake.

Pereira faced significant challenges, descending into darkness on Monday evening. Volunteers diligently searched within the rubble of collapsed buildings, hoping to find survivors. At the city’s airport, videos captured chaotic scenes of falling ceiling debris and panicked travelers seeking shelter among the ruins.

Colombia’s president, Abelardo de la Espriella, recently appointed, declared a state of emergency. He committed to a comprehensive rescue operation to address the devastation. Around 1,600 buildings suffered damage or collapse, necessitating manual efforts to clear the wreckage and rescue survivors.

Tragic stories emerged, such as that of Dana Carolina Zamora, who posted about her missing 60-year-old uncle, Miguel Ángel Zamora. He had been living near the quake’s epicenter in San Jose Del Palmar, and his fate remained unknown. “We are afraid. We hope that is not the case, that he is all right and that it is only a communication failure,” Zamora expressed her concerns.

President de la Espriella assured citizens that military and police resources were entirely committed to the quake response. In the international realm, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, representing the Trump administration, expressed readiness to support Colombia in this crisis through social media. Humanitarian groups from South Florida, including U.S.-based organizations, acted swiftly to coordinate aid efforts. “There’s a lot of damage, and we are waiting for information as to what the needs are. The first is rescue and recovery,” said Fabio Andrade, a Weston city commissioner and Colombian American, to CBS News Miami.