Colombia earthquake: rescuers search for survivors as death toll reported rises

Rescue crews searched collapsed buildings across Cali and Pereira as authorities warned the death toll could rise, with hundreds still missing and thousands displaced by the powerful quake.

Emergency crews comb through rubble for survivors after Colombia’s strongest earthquake in decades, while thousands spend the night outdoors and isolated communities near the epicentre await government assistance.

The United Nations and its humanitarian partners have provided aid to 3,000 people affected by a deadly earthquake in Colombia.

A week after a deadly quake, Colombia turns from rescue efforts to shelter, aid and rebuilding.

Around 290 people have died, with 140 more missing and nearly 4,000 more injured, according to official estimates. More than two-thirds of the deaths were concentrated in Cali and Pereira.

BOGOTA, Colombia — Hopes of finding survivors of the earthquake that struck western Colombia five days ago were dwindling on Saturday, as more bodies were pulled from buildings that collapsed due to the 7.4-magnitude quake that left hundreds dead or missing. The earthquake struck just after 7:30 a.m. in San Jose del Palmar, toppling apartment buildings and damaging schools, churches, hospitals and homes from the Pacific port Buenaventura to Colombia's coffee-growing region and major western cities. At least 294 people have died with 320 more missing and nearly 4,000 more injured, Colombia's disaster management unit estimated on Saturday. Over two-thirds of the deaths were concentrated in the cities of Cali and Pereira. "We have only one site where there are signs of life," Cali fire captain Alberto Hernandez told Reuters. "At the other locations, we are unfortunately in the phase of recovering bodies." With over 2 million inhabitants, Cali is Colombia's third-biggest city. Rescue workers continued through the morning to sift through mountains of shattered concrete, bricks and metal to

320 are missing and nearly 4,000 more injured, Colombia’s disaster management unit estimated on Saturday

CALI, Colombia — Rescuers reported apparent signs of life under the rubble in two of the Colombian cities hit hardest by a massive earthquake, rekindling hopes Friday that more people could be found alive. Search and rescue teams from Venezuela, Argentina and Israel joined the search for survivors following the 7.4 magnitude quake that struck the South American nation on Monday, killing at least 285 people. At 96 hours since the temblor hit, the window for survival was narrowing Friday afternoon. The mayor of Pereira, Mauricio Salazar, told radio station FM on Friday that “contact was made with a woman who […]...Keep on reading: Hope reborn in Colombia as signs of life emerge under earthquake debris

As the clock ran out on the most critical window for rescuing people trapped after an earthquake, Colombia’s disaster relief chief promised the search would not stop until every missing person is accounted for. The country’s most powerful quake this century ripped through western Colombia, ravaging the cities of Cali and Pereira and destroying nearly […]

285 have been killed, nearly 4,000 were injured, and 400 others are still missing from a 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday.

Rescue workers rushed to free a survivor Friday in Colombia amid the rubble left by a powerful earthquake nearly four days earlier that killed at least 285 people and injured 4,000. Some 400 people were still missing and tens of thousands of homes were ​damaged, leaving many Colombians sleeping in shelters or outside.

In Colombia, hopes are fading of finding survivors after Monday’s powerful earthquake. Rescue teams are now turning their focus to recovering bodies, but families are still holding out hope of finding their loved ones alive beneath the rubble. Many have taken matters into their own hands, as our reporters found when they visited Cali, a city near the quake’s epicentre.

In Colombia hopes are fading of finding survivors after Monday’s powerful earthquake. Rescue teams are now turning their focus to recovering bodies, but families are still holding out hope of finding their loved ones alive beneath the rubble. Many have taken matters into their own hands, as our reporters found when they visited Cali, a city near the quake’s epicentre. A report by R. Sedano, M. Pluvinet, R. Pérez and Y. Royer.

CALI/PEREIRA, Colombia, Aug 13 (Reuters) - Hopes of finding more survivors of the powerful earthquake that rocked Colombia early this week were fading on Thursday as rescue workers narrowed their searches, while families in the worst-hit areas waited for news of missing relatives.

Crews began shifting from a search-and-rescue effort to debris removal at many sites, a sign ​the disaster response was entering a grimmer phase after the crucial first 72 hours.

Hopes of finding more survivors of the powerful earthquake that rocked Colombia early this week were fading as rescue workers narrowed their searches, while families in the worst-hit areas waited for news of missing relatives.

Search efforts continue though hopes are fading as teams dig for survivors from the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that killed more than 250 people.

CALI/PEREIRA, Colombia — Hopes of finding more survivors from the powerful earthquake that rocked Colombia early this week were fading on Thursday as rescue workers narrowed their searches, while families in the worst-hit areas waited for news of missing relatives. In Cali, the country's third-largest city, crews have turned their attention from a search-and-rescue effort to debris removal at most sites, a sign the disaster response was entering a grimmer phase after the crucial first 72 hours. The 7.4-magnitude quake struck shortly after 7:30 a.m. local time on Monday, toppling apartment blocks, damaging homes, schools and hospitals and sending residents into the streets across western Colombia, home to the country's coffee farms. At least 273 people were killed — many in Cali and Pereira, a city in the coffee region —and more than 3,800 injured, according to government data on Thursday morning. It also said 377 people were still reported to be missing. In Pereira, Enrique Marin said he drove more than 10 hours from Bogota after getting a call from a friend who told him Marin's

Rescue teams in Colombia are scaling back searches after a powerful earthquake killed at least 265 people, with around 500 still missing.

CALI, Colombia (AFP)—Rescuers in Colombia made a last-ditch effort to locate earthquake survivors early Thursday, as the critical 72-hour window for finding people alive drew to a close. Some 500 people are still missing after the magnitude 7.4 quake, the strongest to hit Colombia this century, and which has already claimed 265 lives and injured more than 3,500, according to local authorities. In Cali and Pereira, cities in the country's west, emergency crews worked for a third night with bare hands, cutting tools and sniffer dogs, stopping only to listen for signs of life. "Hope is the last thing you lose," said Valeria Cardona Torres, a 26-year-old volunteer rescuer searching for two cousins believed trapped in a collapsed building in Cali. "We haven't found them. We have indications of where they might be, but there are no signs of life." The missing pair include the mother of baby Salomon, who was pulled alive from the rubble on the first day alongside his father, who suffered a broken leg. "We are anxious about hearing news that we do not want to hear," said the young rescue worker. Thursday morning marks 72 hours since the quake, a period when survivors are considered most likely to be found alive, unless they are near pockets of water and air. Several dozen aftershocks and widespread structural damage were complicating the rescue effort. "We are making progress," said Juan Diego Patino, governor of nearby Risaralda province. "But day after day the buildings that were left on the verge of collapse, some of them are now collapsing." Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has declared the disaster an "economic emergency" and announced three days of national mourning. "We will do what is necessary," he said in a statement, vowing to "emerge again as a country and as a society." More than 11,000 dwellings have been destroyed and thousands of families have been rendered homeless, according to official figures. But the toll may yet be higher, with some remote communities near the Pacific coast yet to be surveyed. Ombudsman Iris Marin said a hospital in Choco was operating at 160 percent capacity and that authorities had yet to verify conditions in 32 Indigenous settlements. -'My house is finished' - Many families have already spent consecutive nights outdoors, either because their homes were damaged or they feared aftershocks. Javier Alzate, a 79-year-old psychologist, was trying to remove tiles and other dangerous bits of debris so he could get access to his damaged home. "There's no other option. We have to get everything out because if it rains, everything will be ruined," he said. "It's very distressing. Very sad. You work 40 or 50 years to buy a little house, struggling all that time to get it. I finally got it, and a few days later it's gone." "My house is finished. I lost my home and my car." Dilian Francisca Toro, governor of Valle del Cauca, said officials were conducting a census of damaged and destroyed homes to determine which buildings could still be occupied. "We have to begin working because people simply cannot bear staying out on the streets any longer," she said. "People are telling us: 'If you give us the materials, we'll do the work ourselves,'" Toro said, describing plans for community-led reconstruction efforts. Many Colombians have mobilized to help, bringing water, food and supplies to affected neighborhoods, while long lines formed outside blood donation centers. Colombia was also preparing to receive international urban search-and-rescue teams from the United States, El Salvador, Ecuador and Israel, according to disaster authorities.

Rescue and relief efforts are underway in Colombia in the aftermath of a horrific 7.4-magnitude earthquake. CBS News' Lilia Luciano reports from Pereira, Colombia.

Tons of aid from regional partners began to roll into Colombia on Wednesday, as the search for survivors in the rubble of a powerful earthquake grew more desperate after the temblor razed buildings, buckled roads and crushed cars.

Rescuers are racing against a critical 72-hour window to find survivors after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that has killed 265 people, left hundreds missing, and displaced tens of thousands across western Colombia.

Rescuers in Colombia faced a race against time Wednesday as they searched collapsed buildings for survivors after the country's strongest earthquake this century. The magnitude 7.4 quake has killed 265 people and injured more than 3,500, with nearly 500 still missing.

PEREIRA, Colombia — Colombia’s earthquake rescue efforts entered what officials called the “final phase” on Wednesday, as rescuers searched for signs of life beneath collapsed buildings before the critical first 72 hours came to an end. The magnitude 7.4 quake, the strongest to hit Colombia this century, has killed 265 people, injured more than 3,500 and left almost 500 missing, according to local authorities. In the city of Pereira, crews focused on a collapsed bakery where they believe a street vendor trapped since Monday’s earthquake may still be alive beneath the rubble. READ: Colombia rescuers find woman alive as quake death […]...Keep on reading: Colombia enters 'final phase' of earthquake search as toll hits 265

The devastation has tested Colombia's new president and his government as it scrambles to respond to the disaster and civil society as it pushes to provide aid to the most affected communities.

Tonnes of aid from regional partners began to roll into Colombia on Wednesday, as the search for survivors in the rubble of a powerful earthquake grew more desperate after the temblor razed buildings, buckled roads and crushed cars. The devastation has tested Colombia’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, and his government as it scrambles to respond to the disaster and civil society as it pushes to provide aid to the most affected communities. De la Espriella said Wednesday evening that at...

In Colombia, rescuers hold out hope that they can still find more survivors in the rubble following a powerful earthquake that rocked the country. NBC News’ George Solis is on the ground, where search crews are working through the night.

Tons of aid from regional partners began to roll into Colombia on Wednesday, as the search for survivors in the rubble of powerful earthquake grew more desperate after the temblor razed buildings, buckled roads and crushed cars.

Colombian rescue teams raced on Wednesday to ‌find survivors still trapped beneath collapsed buildings two days after a powerful earthquake left nearly 250 people dead. At Torres del…

The search for survivors from Colombia's earthquake grows more desperate as residents share their survival stories with the ABC.

BOGOTA — Colombia on Wednesday declared three days of mourning for victims of an earthquake that killed 239 people, as rescuers entered what officials called the final phase of the search for survivors. Monday's magnitude 7.4 quake, the strongest to hit Colombia this century, devastated towns across the coffee-growing west, leaving at least 3,700 families homeless, according to the national disaster management agency. The government said flags would be lowered to half-staff on official buildings and at Colombian embassies abroad "in honor of all the dead." In the cities of Pereira and Cali, emergency crews labored through the night with cranes, dogs and heavy machinery in the hunt for survivors, while volunteers formed human chains to clear debris by hand. Rescuers pulled 32-year-old Daniela Largo alive from the rubble of a Pereira hotel after 35 hours trapped, offering a rare sign of hope as the window for finding survivors narrowed. "We were losing hope and then we received a call," her mother Sandra Milena Perez told AFP. A local resident heard cries for help beneath the rubble and

BOGOTA, Colombia (AFP)—Colombia on Wednesday declared three days of mourning for victims of an earthquake that killed 239 people, as rescuers entered what officials called the final phase of the search for survivors. Monday's magnitude 7.4 quake, the strongest to hit Colombia this century, devastated towns across the coffee-growing west, leaving at least 3,700 families homeless, according to the national disaster management agency. The government said flags would be lowered to half-staff on official buildings and at Colombian embassies abroad "in honor of all the dead." In the cities of Pereira and Cali, emergency crews labored through the night with cranes, dogs and heavy machinery in the hunt for survivors, while volunteers formed human chains to clear debris by hand. Rescuers pulled 32-year-old Daniela Largo alive from the rubble of a Pereira hotel after 35 hours trapped, offering a rare sign of hope as the window for finding survivors narrowed. "We were losing hope and then we received a call," her mother Sandra Milena Perez told AFP. A local resident heard cries for help beneath the rubble and joined neighbors in removing debris before professional rescuers arrived, she said. "I thank him with all my heart because thanks to him today we are happy... a son is waiting for her at home," Perez said. On Thursday morning rescue teams will approach a grim landmark. "We're entering the final phase of the first 72 hours," Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said Wednesday, referring to the period when survivors are most likely to be found alive beneath rubble. "That doesn't mean there won't be survivors afterwards, but it is more difficult," he said. Rescuers are not giving up hope just yet. Veteran volunteer Julio Cesar Pineda said teams still believed survivors could be found beneath the rubble despite dwindling odds. "These are critical hours because two days have already passed," he told AFP. "I know that today and tomorrow we will pull people out alive." - 'Starting over' - From the air, neighborhoods in Cali appeared flattened, with piles of rubble replacing entire blocks of homes and apartment buildings. The quake overwhelmed parts of the health system, turning the rescue effort into one of Colombia's largest disaster responses in years. Many survivors spent a second night outdoors, either because their homes were damaged or because they feared aftershocks. One park in Pereira was transformed into a makeshift shelter with tents and mattresses. "We lost everything, but we're alive," said 23-year-old John Tabasco, who was camped there with his wife and seven-month-old son. In the mountain town of El Cairo, residents gathered at community kitchens while power outages persisted and many remained reluctant to return home. "People don't want to go inside their homes, people don't want to sleep, people don't know what to do," resident Adriana Gonzalez told AFP. In nearby Roldanillo, Yuliana Mendez picked through the wreckage of the beauty products store where she worked, one of many businesses damaged in the disaster. "It's like starting over from scratch," she said. - Bringing water, donating blood - In Pereira's Providencia neighbourhood, residents hauled furniture and household items from damaged buildings. Among them was lawyer Ana Paulina Crosthwaite, whose apartment block was left unsafe by the quake. "We're in a state of shock," she told AFP. "We're not prepared to tell our children that we have to pack whatever we can and start a new life." Many Colombians have mobilized to help, bringing water, food and supplies to affected neighborhoods, while long lines formed outside blood donation centers. "It's about wanting to help your community, your city and your country," said blood donor Ferney Cabrera. President Abelardo de la Espriella, sworn in on Friday, declared a state of emergency and promised rent subsidies for affected families during a visit to Pereira on Tuesday. The United States announced $15.5 million in emergency aid, while messages of support and offers of assistance arrived from around the world.

The search for survivors in the rubble of Colombia's powerful earthquake grew more desperate on Wednesday, two days after the quake brought down buildings, buckled roads and crushed cars.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia has killed more than 250 people, with rescue teams continuing to search through the rubble for survivors. Peru has also sent humanitarian aid and is preparing to deploy trained rescuers.

The death toll is rising in Colombia following the country’s worst earthquake in decades. At least 240 people have been confirmed killed in the west of the country, many of them found beneath the rubble of their homes. But the painstaking search for survivors continues, with some stories of hope, including that of a 32-year-old woman who was pulled alive from a collapsed apartment on Tuesday. Morgan Ayre has our report.

The earthquake killed at least 181 people and left 2,595 injured, according to Colombian authorities. At least 195 remained missing, but civilian-run databases put that number closer to 4,000.

Rescue crews dug through mountains of rubble in western Colombia, shouting for quiet so they could listen for survivors still trapped under the buildings that collapsed in a powerful earthquake estimated to have killed at least 250 people. The 7.4-magnitude quake, the most devastating to strike Colombia this century, tore through its coffee-growing heartland early […]

Rescue teams in Colombia are digging through debris searching for those still alive after a powerful earthquake struck the country. More than 200 people have died. There were some moments of hope as first responders pulled one baby out of the rubble. NBC News’ George Solis reports from Cali, Colombia.

At least 254 deaths have been reported so far, as rescue workers continue to sift through collapsed buildings.

In Colombia, the desperate search for survivors is entering a critical phase after the powerful earthquake that devastated parts of the country. More than 180 people are confirmed dead. But 24 hours after the quake struck, there are still remarkable moments of hope. Geoff Bennett reports.

Rescuers search for survivors in western Colombia in what is called the country’s strongest earthquake this century.

Colombia experienced a number of aftershocks on Tuesday, as efforts continued to free survivors trapped in rubble and buildings.

PEREIRA (COLOMBIA) - Colombian volunteers on Tuesday dredged through rubble, searching for survivors from an earthquake that killed at least 240 people and leveled more than a hundred homes and office buildings.

Emergency crews in Colombia are desperately searching for survivors of Monday's powerful earthquake, which hit the country about 250 miles west of Bogotá. CBS News' Lilia Luciano has the latest.

Thousands remain unaccounted for, with many buried under rubble and rescuers yet to reach more isolated communities. The true scale of the destruction is emerging only slowly, with the death toll likely to rise steeply.

Rescue workers search for thousands of people missing a day after 7.4 magnitude event hit west of countryColombian rescue workers are racing to find survivors after the country’s deadliest earthquake this century killed at least 224 people and left at least 3,000 missing.In Cali, one of the worst affected cities, firefighters said they had pulled a 35-year-old man from the wreckage of a collapsed building at shortly before 4am on Tuesday – nearly 24 hours after the 7.4 magnitude quake rattled western Colombia. Continue reading...

Emergency crews are picking through piles of rubble in hopes of helping trapped survivors after a powerful earthquake shook Colombia, causing buildings to crumble and collapse. CBS News' Bradley Blackburn reports.

A second day of search and rescue efforts is underway after a massive earthquake struck western Colombia, burying people in rubble and causing untold damage in its Pacific region and the central Andes.

Colombian volunteers and rescuers cleared rubble with their bare hands and buckets to search for survivors early Tuesday (August 11) after the country's strongest earthquake in a decade killed at least 132 people and smashed dozens of buildings.

Rescue workers searched through rubble for survivors of a collapsed building after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, with more than 100 people killed in the country's strongest earthquake this century.

Rescuers in Cali search rubble after Colombia’s strongest quake this century, which killed over 130 people, left hundreds injured and many missing.