Colombia Struggles to Rescue Thousands After Devastating 7.4 Earthquake

Colombia is facing a massive rescue operation following a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the western and central regions of the country on Tuesday morning. The quake, centered near San José del Palmar about 400 kilometers west of Bogotá, caused widespread destruction, killing at least 166 people and injuring 570, with over 2,700 reported missing or out of contact as of Wednesday night. More than 1,500 buildings were severely damaged or collapsed, including dozens in major cities such as Cali, Pereira, and Manizales.

Cali, Colombia's third-largest city with 2.2 million residents, suffered the heaviest toll with at least 85 fatalities and 188 people missing. Rescue teams and volunteers worked tirelessly through the night, clearing rubble by hand and using basic tools to search for survivors. Many residents remain displaced as damaged buildings are unsafe to inhabit. The city's university hospital also partially collapsed, forcing the evacuation of around 600 patients.

In Pereira, located in Colombia's coffee-growing region, at least 66 people died and about 80% of buildings were damaged or destroyed. Residents described apocalyptic scenes, with people fleeing buildings in panic. The quake was also felt in neighboring Ecuador, Venezuela, and Panama, but no tsunami warning was issued. More than 50 aftershocks have followed, complicating rescue efforts.

Colombia's newly inaugurated President, Abelardo de la Espriella, declared a state of emergency and pledged a coordinated rescue response. He deployed 1,000 security personnel to affected areas and imposed curfews in Cali and Pereira to prevent looting. The hardest-hit Chocó region, one of Colombia's poorest and most isolated areas, is difficult to access and has suffered significant damage. The president promised rental subsidies for displaced residents and vowed that Chocó "will never again be a forgotten land."

This earthquake comes less than two months after deadly quakes struck Venezuela, highlighting the seismic risks in the Pacific "Ring of Fire" region. While Colombia frequently experiences minor tremors, earthquakes of this magnitude are rare, with the last major deadly quake occurring in 1999 near Armenia, killing around 1,200 people.

Summary: A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on June 20, causing at least 166 deaths, over 2,700 missing, and widespread destruction in cities like Cali and Pereira. Rescue operations continue amid aftershocks, with the government declaring a state of emergency and deploying security forces to aid recovery.

Points: - A 7.4 earthquake hit western Colombia, killing 166 and leaving 2,700 missing. - Cali suffered severe damage with 85 dead and 188 missing amid ongoing rescues. - Pereira saw 66 deaths and 80% building damage in Colombia's coffee region. - President Abelardo de la Espriella declared emergency and deployed 1,000 security forces. - Over 50 aftershocks complicate rescue; no tsunami warning issued. - The quake struck less than two months after deadly Venezuelan earthquakes.

Topic: security israel_relevant: false Entities: {"people":["Abelardo de la Espriella","Andres Felipe Payares","Nelson Moreno","Carmen Yasmin Garcia","Juan David Gaitan","Monica Sanchez","Wilmer Cuesta","Andres Hernandez"],"organizations":["Colombian government","security forces","rescue teams"],"places":["Colombia","Cali","Pereira","Manizales","San José del Palmar","Chocó","Bogotá","Ecuador","Venezuela","Panama"]}