Colombia earthquake death toll reaches 216 as rescuers continue search for survivors

Colombia is conducting one of its largest disaster response operations in years after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the west of the country on Monday, the strongest to hit the nation in a century. Authorities in Cali have revised the death toll to 216 following corrections to earlier figures.

On Tuesday, rescuers in Pereira pulled 32-year-old Daniela Largo alive from the wreckage of a collapsed building, drawing cheers from crews and relatives. Her mother, Sandra Milena Perez, said a neighbor had heard cries for help beneath the debris and began clearing it with others before professional rescuers arrived. Largo's 12-year-old son was waiting for her at home.

Search continues

In both Cali and Pereira, soldiers, firefighters and volunteers are using cranes, sniffer dogs and heavy machinery to search collapsed buildings, while residents form human chains to clear rubble by hand. Many families spent the night outdoors in parks, fearing aftershocks or unable to return to damaged homes.

The earthquake has strained the health system, with part of the Hospital Universitario del Valle in Cali collapsing and forcing doctors to treat patients in a parking lot and in the open air. While some families continue to search for missing relatives, others are coping with the loss of homes and belongings built up over decades.

Despite the destruction, residents have mobilized to help one another, bringing food, water and supplies to affected areas, with long queues forming at blood donation centres. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency and pledged rent subsidies for affected families. The United States announced $15.5 million (about €13.4 million) in emergency aid, and offers of support have come in from other countries as well.