BOGOTÁ, Colombia — A magnitude 7.4 earthquake in western Colombia has killed more than 200 people, according to official counts, as emergency responders race to find survivors. The tremor caused widespread building collapses and infrastructure damage across several cities.
The Colombian government declared a national disaster following the earthquake. World leaders offered assistance to support the country's recovery. The death toll rose quickly as rescue operations intensified through the night.
In Pereira, one of the hardest-hit cities, rescue workers and volunteers formed human chains to clear rubble. Teams searched collapsed structures, including a six-story building where two girls were believed trapped, according to local reports.
Cali, the country's third-largest city, also experienced severe damage. Dramatic video showed the rescue of a baby from under the rubble of an apartment building. Brian Osorio Zuluaga, who assisted in Cali, said he heard the La Torre del Limonar building collapse and later heard a faint voice saying, "I'm over here. I'm with a baby."
The earthquake's epicenter was near San José del Palmar, a rural agricultural town of roughly 5,900 people. Community leader Jeison Guevara, a bakery owner in the La Italia district, said the area suffered structural damage to homes and roads, along with a complete loss of water and electricity.
San José del Palmar remains isolated. Guevara said the main road to neighboring Cartago is blocked by 18 separate landslides. Only one bulldozer is working to clear the route, delaying the arrival of additional resources.
The United Nations warned that food distribution will be crucial in the coming days for affected communities. One indigenous leader living near the epicenter said his community had not yet received aid, pointing to the difficulty of reaching remote areas.
Guevara described an atmosphere of anxiety in La Italia on Monday night, with fears of aftershocks compounded by the power outage.
On Tuesday, many residents attempted to resume daily activities. In La Italia, community members used generators to charge phones and confirm to families that they were safe, while awaiting the restoration of essential services.
