A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia has left a trail of destruction, with the death toll rising to 265 as rescue teams continue searching for survivors and people still missing.
According to Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, at least 3,494 people have been injured, while 496 remain missing. More than 53,000 people have been affected by the disaster.
Emergency responders are working through collapsed buildings and damaged communities as authorities focus their efforts on locating those still unaccounted for. The scale of the destruction has placed enormous pressure on rescue and relief operations.
The earthquake has reportedly destroyed more than 11,000 homes and damaged tens of thousands more. Schools, community centres and other public infrastructure have also suffered significant damage, according to Colombia’s disaster management authorities.
The Colombian government has declared an economic emergency to help mobilise resources for the response and reconstruction. Authorities say the emergency measures will support efforts to rebuild hospitals, schools, roads, airports and other critical infrastructure damaged by the earthquake.
International support has also begun arriving. Mexico has sent an initial humanitarian aid shipment to Colombia, while further assistance is expected as the scale of the disaster becomes clearer.
For families still waiting for news of loved ones, however, the immediate priority remains the search and rescue operation.
As rescue workers continue digging through the rubble, Colombia faces not only a race to save lives but also the enormous task of rebuilding communities devastated by one of the country’s most destructive earthquakes in recent years.
