Colombia Earthquake Kills 180 as Rescuers Race to Find Survivors

Rescue workers in Colombia are working against the clock to free survivors trapped in buildings and under rubble following Monday's powerful earthquake, with the confirmed death toll rising past 180, mostly concentrated in the cities of Cali and Pereira.

The magnitude 7.4 quake struck at 07:34 (12:34 GMT) on Monday, sending tremors across hundreds of miles in western Colombia, with fresh aftershocks continuing into Tuesday. Although the official death toll is 181, aggregated figures from local officials suggest the number could exceed 240, leading President Abelardo de la Espriella to declare a state of emergency.

Providing an update on Tuesday from Pereira, one of the hardest-hit cities, President Espriella stated that nearly 2,600 people had been injured and almost 200 remain missing. He also reported that over 1,100 homes were destroyed and more than 8,000 damaged, forcing many residents in Pereira and Cali to spend the night outdoors due to destroyed homes or fear of further collapses.

In Cali, a city of 2.2 million people with 95 recorded deaths, a unified command post has been established. Mayor Alejandro Eder stated that 239 people remain trapped, 949 are injured, and 45 buildings have partially or totally collapsed. Upper floors of a city hospital collapsed trapping patients, and four children died at the Gimnasio Calima school in the city's north, prompting a local curfew from 20:00 to 06:00 to prevent looting.

Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event

Colombia's geological service reported over 70 aftershocks since Monday, including two magnitude 3.6 tremors early Tuesday in San José del Palmar and Santander. In Pereira, where the fire department confirmed 79 deaths, a car-free day was implemented to facilitate rescue operations.