Search efforts in Colombia enter ‘final phase’ as quake toll reaches 265

What the report says

Rescue operations in Colombia were described by officials as entering a “final phase” after Monday’s powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake, with the confirmed death toll rising to 265 and more than 3,500 people reported injured, according to Al Jazeera. Local authorities also said nearly 500 people were still missing, while more than 9,550 homes had been destroyed in what was described as the country’s strongest quake this century.

The worst-hit areas included Pereira and Cali, where officials reported 83 and 74 deaths, respectively. Crews were working near the 72-hour mark after the quake, when chances of finding survivors are highest, and continued searching collapsed buildings with cranes, dogs and vibration sensors. In Pereira, rescuers focused on a bakery where a trapped street vendor may still be alive, after possible signs of life were detected.

President Abelardo de La Espriella said his government would create an emergency fund to help rebuild hospitals, schools, homes and other infrastructure damaged by the disaster. He also declared an economic emergency, though details were not provided. The president, inaugurated only days before the quake, said the response was centered on finding the missing.

The article also described a broader public response, with Colombians bringing food, water and blood donations to affected areas. In a wider context, major earthquakes often place heavy pressure on emergency services and test new governments early in their terms, especially when damage affects hospitals, schools and transport networks.