A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, leaving at least 254 people dead and thousands missing. The disaster, which hit shortly after 7:30 am local time, caused widespread destruction, with entire neighborhoods reduced to rubble. Among the victims was Rossy Lemos, a well-known Colombian television journalist, whose home was completely destroyed.
Rescue teams worked tirelessly to locate survivors, with one woman rescued after being trapped for 36 hours under collapsed buildings in Pereira. Despite the efforts, the death toll continues to rise, with some reports indicating over 250 fatalities. Government officials and civilian-run databases have provided conflicting figures, with the latter suggesting up to 4,000 people may still be missing.
The earthquake has also exposed challenges in the country’s emergency response system. Reports indicate that at least 181 people were confirmed dead, with 2,595 injured. As the search for survivors continues, the scale of the disaster has raised concerns about the effectiveness of rescue operations and the long-term impact on affected communities.
