After Monday’s strong earthquake, rescuers in Colombia are racing against the clock to liberate survivors buried in debris and trapped in buildings.
The majority of the more than 180 reported deaths occurred in the cities of Cali and Pereira.
Hundreds of miles throughout western Colombia were affected by the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that hit on Monday, and new aftershocks were still being felt on Tuesday.
Colombia Earthquake Leaves Widespread Destruction
Although the official death toll is at 181, a total number obtained from local authorities suggests that it may be as high as 240. President Abelardo de la Espriella has proclaimed a state of emergency.
President Espriella provided an update on Tuesday from Pereira, one of the hardest-hit cities, stating that in addition to the dead, about 2,600 others had been injured and nearly 200 were still unaccounted for.
Additionally, he stated that over 8,000 dwellings had been damaged and over 1,100 had been demolished.
Many residents in places like Pereira and Cali spent the nite outside on Monday and Tuesday, either because their homes were demolished or because they were afraid of more collapses.
Larger structures have also fallen around the nation.
Rescue Efforts Intensify in Cali as Buildings Collapse
A single command center has been established to coordinate the rescue effort in Cali, a metropolis of 2.2 million people where 95 people have died.
Alejandro Eder, the mayor of California, reported on Tuesday that 45 buildings had either entirely or partially fallen, 949 people were hurt, and 239 people were still trapped.
Some patients were trapped when some of the city’s hospitals’ top floors, some of which were devoted to pediatric care, fell.
Four youngsters lost their lives when a portion of the Gimnasio Calima school fell in the northern Cali neighborhood of Calima.
According to Antonio Cadavid, the municipality’s mayor, 30 children were referred to care facilities, while other youngsters had severe injuries.
Aftershocks Continue as Rescue Efforts Intensify
According to Colombia’s geological office, more than 70 aftershocks have occurred since Monday’s earthquake, and more tremors were detected in Cali on Tuesday.
The agency said that two magnitude 3.6 earthquakes happened early on Tuesday. San José del Palmar hosted the first, while Santander hosted the second.
The fire brigade in Pereira reports that 79 people have perished.
In order to facilitate the search, the city has instituted a car-free day, and residents are asked to cooperate.
With hundreds of volunteers laboring to clear debris and liberate trapped individuals, footage from the city has demonstrated the enormous scope of the rescue operation.
Manizales Reports Damage as International Support Grows
A resident of the Parque Industrial district, which is close to the city’s airport, described the shock felt in the region to BBC Mundo a few hours after the earthquake struck Pereira.
The city center is unreachable. At least one structure fell in Bolívar Square, the city’s principal square.
Additionally, there are buildings where trucks and busses are stuck, and many are worried that those buildings may also collapse,” he stated.We’re all in disbelief. It was truly terrible.
Five individuals have died in Manizales, according to Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas.
In Manizales, sixty structures had either completely or partially fallen.
Rojas advised people not to spread chain messages, warning of further earthquakes.
