Kathmandu— A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday morning near San Jose del Palmar in the Choco region, leaving a trail of destruction across cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo. As of Wednesday, the death toll has risen to 265 with approximately 3,500 injured and nearly 500 people still missing, according to President Abelardo de la Espriella. Rescue teams have been working tirelessly through three nights, focusing on areas where signs of life are still being detected, though officials acknowledge the chances of finding survivors diminish with each passing hour.

Search and Rescue Intensifies

Rescuers continue to work against the clock as the 72-hour mark – considered critical for survival – approaches. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder stated that they are entering the “final phase” of the search, while still urging speed in detecting any remaining signs of life beneath the rubble. Volunteer rescuer Johana Sanchez described teams pausing every 30 minutes to listen for survivors, reporting three people pulled out alive and three confirmed fatalities in her sector.

Human Cost of the Disaster

The earthquake has had a devastating impact on families across the affected regions. In Palmira, Santiago Lloreda recounted the loss of his mother and 13-month-old daughter, Salma, who will require DNA identification due to her young age. Another man, identified only as Ricardo, traveled from Miami to recover his sister’s body while his niece receives treatment for severe injuries including a fractured skull, jaw, leg, and collapsed lung. “She's alive. We know she's going to get better,” he said.

Widespread Damage and Displacement

Officials report that 140 buildings have completely collapsed and thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed. Over 25,800 families have been affected in total. Thousands are now homeless, seeking shelter outdoors in parks or within emergency facilities set up in schools and sports arenas due to both the destruction of their homes and ongoing fears of aftershocks. The country’s geological service has recorded 130 aftershocks since Monday's initial quake.

International Aid Mobilizes

Response efforts are particularly challenging in Choco, the earthquake’s epicenter, which is a remote and impoverished region already grappling with decades of conflict and displacement. Lost cell service is also hindering damage assessment in communities accessible only by river. International aid has begun to arrive, with the United States pledging over $15 million and sending response teams. Mexico has dispatched military aircraft carrying nearly 20 tons of food, while El Salvador offered two planes carrying 100 tons of supplies. A search-and-rescue team from Mexico arrived directly from Venezuela, which recently experienced its own major earthquakes.

New President Faces Early Test

The earthquake presents a significant early challenge for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who was inaugurated just three days prior to the disaster. He has declared an economic emergency and three days of national mourning, pledging to establish a fund for rebuilding infrastructure. Analyst Tiziano Breda noted that de la Espriella campaigned partly on cutting funding to the country’s disaster-response agency – the same unit now leading the emergency effort.

President de la Espriella has not yet detailed specific economic emergency measures, but officials remain focused on locating those still missing and providing aid to affected communities. Experts warn that further seismic activity remains a possibility given Colombia's active fault lines.

(With inputs from DW)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.