Yesterday, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake was recorded in Colombia, with at least 164 people dead and dozens of buildings destroyed or damaged, while there are fears that the death toll will be higher.
Emergency teams, assisted by police officers, soldiers and volunteers, worked throughout the night with excavators and, at times, with their bare hands, searching for survivors beneath the rubble.
The epicentre of the earthquake was in the western province of Chocó, and the greatest losses and destruction have been recorded in cities such as Pereira and Cali.
On June 24, successive 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes struck Venezuela, which borders Colombia, leaving around 6,000 people dead.
In Cali, home to around 2.2 million people, at least 85 people were killed. Dozens of buildings were left leaning dangerously or were completely destroyed, forcing residents into the streets. In Pereira, capital of the heavily affected department of Risaralda, authorities reported 66 deaths. The city also suffered some of the most visible destruction, with entire residential blocks reduced to piles of concrete and twisted steel.
Today, rescue efforts continue, with rescue crews digging through the rubble.
Colombia’s new president, Abelardo De La Espriella, promised to deploy 1,000 police officers and military personnel there and provide rent subsidies to those affected by the earthquake. Meanwhile, both Cali and Pereira imposed curfews from last night.
Sources: Guardian, Reuters
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