TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Rescue crews, soldiers and volunteers searched through mountains of rubble in western Colombia on Tuesday, August 11, as they raced to find survivors trapped beneath buildings collapsed by a powerful earthquake that has killed at least 254 people.
The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, devastating parts of the country's coffee-growing heartland and leaving thousands of people homeless. More than 1,670 people were injured, according to tallies from municipal authorities.
Pereira and Cali were among the hardest-hit cities, with apartment buildings, homes, schools and health facilities damaged or destroyed. Many residents spent the night outdoors because their homes were unsafe or they feared further aftershocks.
As reported by Reuters, rescuers used cranes, excavators, sniffer dogs and their bare hands to search collapsed structures. Teams repeatedly stopped work and called into the rubble, listening for voices or other signs of people who might still be alive.
The rescue operation continued as more than 100 aftershocks were recorded by Tuesday afternoon.
In Cali, crowds cheered when rescuers pulled a woman alive from the rubble of the Torres del Limonar apartment complex. In another rescue effort, workers located survivors after hearing a whistle from beneath a collapsed building.
The earthquake has been described as the most devastating to strike Colombia this century. The country sits at the intersection of several major tectonic plates, making it one of the world's seismically active regions.
Rescue Efforts Continue
The scale of the destruction has overwhelmed parts of Colombia's health system.
At Hospital Universitario del Valle in Cali, part of the facility collapsed during the earthquake, forcing doctors to move patients into a parking lot and treat some people outdoors. Three floors housing pediatric, internal medicine and neonatal services eventually gave way, reducing the hospital's capacity from 590 to 350 patients.
In Pereira, army units and sniffer dogs searched through twisted concrete and exposed steel. Volunteers formed human chains to remove bricks and chunks of masonry by hand, while families waited near collapsed buildings for news of missing relatives.
Many communities near the earthquake's epicenter in Chocó were still without electricity and basic services. Some of the most remote areas also faced difficulties receiving government assistance because of damaged infrastructure and poor communications.
Three airports remained closed on Tuesday, while shortages of gas, water and electricity were reported in several areas. Some major highways also remained inaccessible.
Thousands Left Homeless
For survivors, the disaster has brought not only injuries and deaths but also the loss of homes and livelihoods.
In Pereira, a park was transformed into a makeshift shelter with tents and mattresses for residents whose homes were damaged or destroyed. Families gathered outdoors as they waited for authorities to determine whether their properties were safe.
In Cali, residents searched through the wreckage of their homes for whatever possessions they could recover. Cars were crushed beneath fallen walls and concrete slabs, while entire blocks were reduced to piles of rubble.
According to Firstpost, rescuers, soldiers and volunteers continued searching collapsed apartment blocks and office buildings in Pereira and Cali, using heavy machinery and sniffer dogs alongside civilians armed with picks, shovels and their bare hands.
In one rescue effort, workers pulled a man and a baby from a collapsed building while the man's wife remained trapped beneath the rubble.
For many families, the search for missing relatives had become a vigil. Some refused to leave the sites of collapsed buildings while waiting for rescuers to recover their loved ones.
Despite the devastation, residents mobilized to support rescue and relief efforts. Thousands brought food, water and other supplies to affected neighborhoods, while long lines formed at blood donation centers.
Government Response
President Abelardo de la Espriella visited affected areas and declared a state of emergency. He also promised rent subsidies for families whose homes were destroyed.
The government has pledged economic support as authorities assess the scale of the destruction, while the National Coffee Federation has been working with affected families to assess damage to farms and rural infrastructure.
The United States has announced $15.5 million in emergency assistance for Colombia, including support for emergency shelter, food, protection and damage assessments.
The full extent of the destruction remains unclear, particularly in remote areas where communications remain limited. Authorities have warned that it could take days to establish the final death toll and complete damage assessments.
As aftershocks continue to shake damaged communities, rescue crews remain at collapsed buildings, hoping that more voices, taps or whistles will emerge from beneath the rubble.
Read: Colombia Earthquake: Rescuers Race to Find Thousands Missing
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