Rescue teams in Colombia continued searching for people trapped beneath collapsed buildings on Tuesday, a day after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western parts of the country. Authorities said at least 181 people had been confirmed dead, while aftershocks added to concerns for residents and emergency workers.
The earthquake struck at 07:34 local time on Monday and was felt across a vast area of western Colombia. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency and said nearly 2,600 people had been injured, with almost 200 still reported missing.
More than 1,100 homes were destroyed and over 8,000 damaged, the president said during an update from Pereira, one of the hardest-hit cities. Many people spent the night outside in Pereira and Cali because their homes had been damaged or because they feared further collapses.
Cali and Pereira among worst-hit cities
Cali, a city of 2.2 million people, recorded 95 deaths, according to the report. Mayor Alejandro Eder said 239 people remained trapped and 949 were injured. He said 45 buildings had fully or partly collapsed.
Parts of a hospital in Cali, including floors used for paediatric care, collapsed, leaving some patients trapped. In the northern Calima neighbourhood, four children died when part of the Gimnasio Calima school collapsed. Antonio Cadavid, the municipality’s mayor, said other children sustained serious injuries and 30 were taken to care centres.
A curfew was ordered in Cali from 20:00 local time until 06:00 on Wednesday in response to concerns about looting. Firefighters and other rescuers continued working through rubble as further tremors were reported in the city.
Colombia’s geological service said more than 70 aftershocks had been recorded since Monday’s earthquake, including two magnitude 3.6 tremors early Tuesday in San José del Palmar and Santander.
In Pereira, the fire department reported 79 deaths. Authorities introduced a car-free day to support the rescue operation, while hundreds of volunteers joined efforts to clear debris and search for survivors. The official national death toll remained 181, although a figure compiled from local officials indicated the number could exceed 240.
International offers of support came from the United Nations, Spain, Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador and Venezuela. The United States announced a $15.5 million donation, while Spain’s foreign minister said 164 Spanish citizens remained missing, with no reported Spanish injuries or deaths at that stage.
Source: BBC News
