Over 290 people have been confirmed dead, with 320 still unaccounted for following Monday’s earthquake. The magnitude 7.4 quake destroyed thousands of homes across the western region. Many residents continue to sleep outdoors in camps because buildings remain unsafe.
The earthquake hit shortly after 7:30 a.m. in San Jose del Palmar, causing widespread destruction in apartment complexes along with damage to schools, churches, hospitals, and residences stretching from the port city of Buenaventura to Colombia’s coffee-producing areas and major western urban centers.
Colombia’s disaster management agency reported Saturday that at least 294 lives have been lost, with 320 individuals missing and nearly 4,000 injured. The bulk of the fatalities occurred in Cali and Pereira. “We have just one site showing signs of life,” Cali fire captain Alberto Hernandez told Reuters. “At other locations, sadly, we are now in the phase of recovering bodies.”
Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city with over 2 million residents, saw rescue teams working tirelessly through the morning amidst piles of debris—concrete, bricks, and metal—hoping to find survivors. Meanwhile, many locals cleaned their neighborhoods with brooms and shovels. Hernandez indicated they might finish recovering bodies by Sunday, after which heavy machinery will be used to clear the remaining debris.
Juana Catano, who leads a community action group, told Reuters that efforts are now focused on recovery and rebuilding. “Right now, we are overwhelmed with mourning,” she said.
Many residents in Pereira, located deep within Colombia’s coffee region, spent the night outdoors on mats or in tents at a makeshift shelter in a park. Aid coordinators reported shortages of blankets, tents, hygiene supplies, and food. A government report estimates that thousands of homes were destroyed in the quake, forcing hundreds to sleep outside in shelters, uncertain whether their damaged apartments are at risk of collapsing.
Since the initial quake, Colombia has experienced around 269 aftershocks, complicating rescue and recovery operations. President Abelardo De La Espriella, a political newcomer sworn in just a week prior, now faces the monumental task of leading relief efforts and rebuilding in what is considered one of Colombia’s worst natural disasters.
De La Espriella has faced some initial criticism for his response, particularly for not immediately accepting rescue assistance from certain countries. Eventually, rescue teams from Israel and the U.S. arrived to aid in the recovery efforts.
The disaster also claimed several victims who had become national symbols, further diminishing hope late into the week. Daniela Largo, age 32, died in the hospital after surviving 36 hours trapped under rubble, while 24-year-old Juan Felipe Giraldo was found dead following a intense rescue at a collapsed hotel. Giraldo’s father had spent days waiting near the site for news. The young man was set to marry on Sunday and left behind a 2-year-old son.
In the cities of Medellin and Bogota, volunteers & residents gathered at donation centers to provide food, clothing, and medical supplies for those affected.
