Colombia earthquake: Over 2,700 people are reported missing, prompting a desperate hunt for survivors

According to local media, the largest earthquake to strike Colombia this century killed at least 132 people and left massive destruction in its wake. Rescuers are now scouring thru collapsed buildings in western Colombia for survivors.

During the magnitude 7.4 earthquake, emergency personnel in the most severely impacted areas, such as Cali and Pereira, have been working thru the nite and into Tuesday, listening for signs of life and attempting to reach victims buried beneath concrete and rubble. Although the extent of the damage is still unknown, the Choco region west of Cali and Pereira has also been affected.

In a major challenge to newly elected far-right President Abelardo de la Espriella, authorities have warned that the death toll from Monday’s earthquake may increase as search teams reach more impacted communities. Cali, which is 280 kilometres (175 miles) southwest of Bogota, the capital, saw dozens of deaths. President De la Espriella reported 35 fatalities in the city on Monday. In the roughly 2.2 million-person city, several of buildings were either completely destroyed or left leaning perilously, sending residents into the streets.

In Valle del Cauca alone, de la Espriella reported 700 injuries after previously reporting at least 87. By Monday nite, over 2,700 people had been reported missing on citizen-run websites, but this number may not accurately reflect the total number of confirmed missing persons.

The towers of an ancient cathedral in Manizales are among the approximately 1,600 structures that have been damaged or destroyed. Hospital director Irne Torres Castro told Caracol television that some of the upper floors of one of Cali’s hospitals—some of which were devoted to paediatric care—collapsed on themselves, trapping some patients and leaving roughly 600 others to receive care on a roadway littered with debris.

De la Espriella, who assumed power on Friday, said rescuing people trapped under rubble was the government’s first priority. About 1,000 members of the security forces would be deployed to Cali by dawn, he said on Monday evening after reports of looting. Cali and Pereira implemented curfews on Monday night.

“Our ‌intention is to cooperate in any way necessary. Here, there are no distinctions or ideological divisions when it comes to defending our people or showing solidarity,” the president told journalists.

Additionally, authorities have sent search dogs, engineers, and rescue personnel to Choco, where the extent of the damage is still unknown due to the area’s isolated location. According to De la Espriella, the “entire military and police apparatus” was deployed by the government to respond.