Colombia mourns 200+ earthquake victims as rescue efforts continue

Colombia declared three days of national mourning after a 7.4‑strength earthquake struck the western part of the country on Monday, killing more than 200 people and leaving thousands injured. Flags were lowered to half‑staff at government buildings and Colombian embassies worldwide to honour the dead. The government called for a period of silence and reflection as rescue crews race to find survivors under the rubble.

The quake was the strongest that Colombia has felt in a century. It flattened buildings, damaged roads and triggered over 100 aftershocks by Tuesday afternoon. Official figures put the injured at 2,595 and the missing at 195, but independent databases suggest that up to 4,000 people could still be unaccounted for. The disaster also tested President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office only three days before the earthquake, forcing him to confront the country’s first major crisis since his controversial election.

Rescue teams worked through the night in cities such as Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo, using cranes, search dogs and heavy machinery. Volunteers formed human chains to clear debris by hand, while residents joined firefighters, digging with picks and shovels for signs of life. In Cali, entire neighbourhoods were flattened, with piles of rubble where homes once stood and cars crushed beneath concrete. The full scale of the damage remains unclear, especially in rural areas like Choco, which is only reachable by boat, jungle trails or air and has long suffered from armed conflict. Hospitals were also hit hard; part of the Hospital Universitario del Valle collapsed, forcing doctors to treat patients in a parking lot. The government declared a state of emergency, promised rent subsidies for displaced families, and announced that the United States will send $15.5 million in emergency aid. As the search continues, aid agencies stress that the first 48 to 72 hours are critical for finding survivors, but people can still live longer if they have water and food.