Colombia Grapples with Devastating Quake Aftermath as Search for Survivors Intensifies
A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake has claimed over 250 lives, flattening buildings and trapping dozens, including children, as the nation mobilises a desperate search for life.
Cali, Colombia – Emergency responders across western Colombia are engaged in a frantic struggle against time, sifting through the wreckage of collapsed structures a day after a potent 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocked the region. The seismic event, which struck at 7:34 am (12:34 GMT) on Monday, has resulted in at least 254 fatalities nationwide, with the cities of Pereira and Cali bearing the brunt of the devastation, according to official government figures.
The human toll is particularly acute in Cali, the country's third-largest city, where at least 95 individuals have perished and 45 buildings have either partially or completely crumbled. Among the most harrowing scenes is the Vanessa Building, a seven-storey residential complex now reduced to rubble. Rescuers, utilising hammers, shovels, and heavy machinery, are desperately trying to reach an estimated 20 people believed to be trapped beneath the concrete. Volunteers at the site have reported that the collapsed building fell onto a neighbouring nursery, leaving approximately 17 children caught in the debris. Maximiliano Herrera, 32, a local volunteer and member of the Adventist Church that ran the nursery, expressed the profound sorrow, stating, “It’s very sad to know that the kids of friends and acquaintances are most likely under here.”
Beyond the immediate fatalities, the earthquake has inflicted widespread damage, impacting some 5,000 homes, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. As residents navigate the destruction, concerns about safety extend beyond aftershocks; fears of looting have prompted Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder to declare a city “militarisation” and impose a curfew from 8 pm to 6 am. This measure reflects the pre-existing challenges of crime in Cali, which accounted for over 8 percent of Colombia’s homicides last year. For many African readers, the dual challenge of immediate disaster response alongside maintaining security in vulnerable areas resonates, mirroring similar complex emergencies across the continent.
The crisis represents the first significant test for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who was inaugurated just days before the quake on Friday, notably choosing Cali for his oath of office to underscore his commitment to combating crime. While the right-wing leader has pledged support and met with local officials, the government's response has drawn criticism for disorganisation and perceived neglect in some areas. Residents of Buenaventura, a historically impoverished city, feel overlooked. Samir Valencia, 42, a former resident of the Vanessa Building now living nearby, lamented, “We've always been forgotten in Buenaventura.” Herrera, the volunteer, also noted, “It's not a lack of support. It's a lack of organisation.”
Despite the challenges, a spirit of solidarity prevails. Firefighters and rescue teams have arrived from major metropolises like Bogota and Medellin, while private construction firms have donated crucial heavy machinery. Volunteers like journalism student Luis Saenz, 22, who described the earthquake as feeling “eternal,” are tirelessly sifting through debris, embodying the collective resolve. “We’re all tired and everything, but we’re trying to keep going,” Saenz affirmed. The primary focus remains on the urgent task of saving lives, with rescuers working around the clock since Monday. (Source: Al Jazeera)