Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Rises To 265, Nearly 500 Still Missing As Rescue Race Intensifies

The death toll from Colombia’s devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake has risen to at least 265, while 496 people remain officially missing and 3,494 others have been injured, as rescue teams race to find survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

The earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, with its epicenter near San José del Palmar in Chocó. It caused widespread destruction across Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó, damaging homes, roads, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure.

According to the latest government figures, the disaster has affected 25,872 families, or 53,816 people. At least 11,347 homes have been destroyed, while another 53,526 have suffered damage. Hundreds of public facilities, roads and bridges have also been affected.

Rescue crews have continued working around the clock, searching collapsed structures with specialised equipment and manually clearing debris in areas where survivors could still be trapped. More than 150 aftershocks have been recorded, making the operation more dangerous for rescuers and residents.

The critical 72-hour window for locating survivors is now passing, raising concerns that the chances of finding people alive are diminishing. However, rescuers have continued to find survivors in some areas, providing families with rare moments of hope amid the devastation.

The number of missing people remains difficult to establish. While authorities have officially recorded 496 missing, civilian databases and other estimates have suggested that thousands more could be unaccounted for, reflecting the scale of the disruption and difficulties in confirming identities.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office only days before the disaster, has declared an economic emergency and announced a reconstruction fund to support affected communities and rebuild homes and critical infrastructure.