Colombia Earthquake: Toll Rises, Disaster Declared

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, causing widespread devastation across cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales and the Risaralda region. Official counts vary, with figures ranging from about 181 to more than 243 fatalities and hundreds reported missing as rescue operations continue and the number of injuries climbs into the thousands. Rescue teams and volunteers worked through the night using heavy machinery and hand tools, as communities waited in streets without power. The disaster prompted a state of emergency and local calamity declarations, complicating relief efforts and prompting authorities to brace for damage to health facilities, schools and infrastructure. Hospitals and essential services suffered structural damage, with collapsed floors and disrupted communications hindering medical responses. Amid the hardship, stories of survival and hope emerged as aid groups and government agencies mobilized to speed relief and recovery.