Rescuers scramble for survivors with 180 dead in Colombia earthquake

What the report says

Rescue workers in Colombia continued searching for people trapped under collapsed buildings after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck on Monday morning, according to BBC World News. The quake was felt across a wide stretch of western Colombia and was followed by dozens of aftershocks, with fresh tremors reported on Tuesday as crews worked in difficult conditions.

BBC World News said the official death toll stood at 181, although some local tallies suggested it could be higher. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency and said nearly 2,600 people had been injured, about 200 were missing, and more than 1,100 homes had been destroyed. The worst-hit cities included Cali and Pereira, where officials reported many deaths, injuries and people still trapped.

In Cali, authorities set up a unified command post to coordinate the response, while a curfew was imposed in one area to reduce looting fears. The report said parts of a hospital and a school also collapsed, with children among the dead and injured. In Pereira, the city introduced a car-free day to help rescue efforts, and hundreds of volunteers joined firefighters in clearing rubble.

The earthquake has significant humanitarian implications because it damaged homes, hospitals and schools and left emergency teams racing against time to find survivors. International assistance was also being offered, including statements of support from the UN and donations pledged by foreign governments, underscoring the scale of the disaster.