Colombia earthquake kills 164, rescue operations continue

Rescuers in western Colombia have been working through the night and into Tuesday to locate survivors beneath the rubble after a powerful 7.4‑magnitude earthquake struck the nation’s coffee‑growing region on Monday. The tremor caused extensive damage to infrastructure and homes across several municipalities, prompting an immediate emergency response from local authorities, the military and humanitarian agencies.

Official figures released by the Colombian government confirm at least 164 deaths, while dozens of people remain missing and many more have been injured. Search and rescue teams continue to comb through collapsed buildings, with priority given to areas where aftershocks have further destabilized debris. Authorities have warned that the casualty count could rise as the operation progresses and as additional aftershocks are felt across the region.

The disaster has also disrupted coffee production, a key economic sector for the affected departments, and has prompted the activation of national disaster relief protocols. Officials emphasize that rescue efforts will persist throughout the week, and they have called for continued support from national and international partners to assist the affected communities and to provide medical and logistical aid.