Colombia Earthquake Rescue Efforts Enter Final Phase as Death Toll Rises

The Mexican volunteer rescue group Topos Azteca arrived in Colombia to assist with rescue efforts following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake.

Rescue operations are entering their final phase as the critical 72-hour window for finding survivors under rubble nears its end. The earthquake, which struck western Colombia on Monday morning, August 10, has killed 265 people, injured more than 3,500, and left nearly 500 missing, according to local authorities. Civilian-run databases, however, put the number of missing at over 4,100.

More than 25,800 families have been affected, and over 11,000 dwellings have been destroyed. Emergency crews in cities like Cali and Pereira worked through a third night, using bare hands, cranes, and sniffer dogs, pausing every 30 minutes to listen for signs of life. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder stated rescue efforts were entering the final phase, though survivors could still be found.

In Pereira, rescuers detected possible signs of life from street vendor Pablo Loaiza, trapped in a collapsed bakery, prompting relatives to gather. Daniela Largo, 32, was rescued alive from rubble in Pereira late Tuesday after 36 hours, following a 12-hour complex operation. A three-month-old baby was also found alive under rubble in Cali. Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, declared the disaster an economic emergency and announced three days of national mourning.

He initially limited requests for international assistance, insisting Colombian capacities were sufficient, but later agreed to receive brigades and equipment from countries like the United States and Argentina. The Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM) expressed solidarity with Colombia, mourning the loss of life. A Chabad house in Salento was damaged, but no injuries were reported.