The strongest earthquake of the current century: a heavy disaster in Colombia

A heavy disaster in western Colombia: the death toll from the deadly earthquake that struck the region has risen to 132 people, while at least 570 others were injured and hundreds are defined as missing. The tremor, with a magnitude of 7.4 recorded at a depth of about 103 kilometers, was defined by the Geological Survey as the strongest measured in the country in the current century. Authorities warn that the victim count is still preliminary and is expected to rise as rescue teams advance in clearing the rubble.

Massive destruction was recorded in major cities, including Pereira, Cali, and Quibdó. Across the country, at least 86 buildings collapsed and about 1,600 residential buildings, dozens of educational institutions, and hospitals were damaged. In addition, seven airports were shut down for safety inspections, and a night curfew was declared in Cali following reports of looting in the streets. Simultaneously, dozens of aftershocks were recorded, increasing the fear of further collapses.

Rescue forces, firefighters, and volunteers worked throughout the night with bare hands and improvised tools in an attempt to locate those trapped. In one of the moments of hope in Cali, a six-month-old baby and her mother were rescued alive from the rubble of a five-story building. Mauricio Andrade, a firefighter from Cali, described the efforts on the ground:

"We hear signs of life under the rubble. They are alive and we are clearing space to get them out."

President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national state of emergency and clarified that the top priority is locating the missing. The United States announced the transfer of immediate emergency aid in the amount of 15.5 million dollars, while other countries in the region are preparing to send rescue teams and medical equipment to Colombia.