Colombia quake: Rescue race on as over 2,700 remain missing

Rescuers in western Colombia are in a desperate race against time, digging through rubble with bare hands and heavy machinery, as the confirmed death toll from Monday's powerful earthquake rose to 132. The 7.4 magnitude quake, which struck the country's Pacific coast region, has left over 2,700 people reported missing, and the window for finding survivors is narrowing.

“Every minute counts,” a rescue coordinator told local media, as teams from Bogotá and neighbouring departments converge on the worst-hit towns. The tremor, which hit at midday local time, toppled buildings, triggered landslides, and cut off roads, hampering access to remote communities.

Search intensifies amid aftershocks

The official death toll, confirmed by Colombia's national disaster agency, is expected to climb as search teams reach isolated hamlets. Over 2,700 names are on the missing list, compiled from family reports and local registries. Many are feared trapped under collapsed homes, schools, and a partially destroyed hospital in the town of Murindó, near the epicentre.

Aftershocks, some as strong as 5.2 magnitude, have complicated rescue efforts, forcing crews to pause work repeatedly. In the city of Quibdó, the capital of Chocó department, residents spent a second night in the open, too terrified to return to their homes. “The ground hasn't stopped shaking since Monday,” said one survivor, cradling a child.

International solidarity grows

As Colombia grapples with its worst seismic disaster in decades, global messages of support have poured in. Chinese President Xi Jinping extended condolences to Colombian President Gustavo Petro over the deadly quake, offering assistance if needed. The United States, the European Union, and several Latin American nations have also pledged aid, including search-and-rescue teams and portable bridges.

The quake, centred in a sparsely populated but vulnerable region, has drawn attention to the fragility of infrastructure in Colombia's Pacific lowlands. Many buildings were constructed without seismic codes, and the region's heavy rainfall has raised the risk of further landslides.

Challenges ahead

Rescue teams are contending with blocked highways, downed communication lines, and a shortage of heavy equipment. In rural areas, locals are using machetes and their bare hands to clear debris, while military helicopters airlift the injured to hospitals in Medellín and Bogotá. Officials have not yet confirmed the exact number of injured, but field hospitals have been set up in makeshift centres.

“The priority is finding the living,” said the head of Colombia's civil defence in a press briefing. “But we must also prepare for the grim task of recovering the dead.” The government has declared a state of emergency in affected departments, enabling faster deployment of funds and resources.

What to watch

Over the coming days, the focus will shift from rescue to recovery, with the missing list likely to shrink as survivors are found or bodies are identified. Weather forecasts predict heavy rain, which could trigger mudslides and further complicate operations. International aid is expected to arrive by the end of the week, but the true scale of the disaster may only become clear once remote areas are reached. For now, every hour is precious, and the world watches as Colombia digs through the rubble.