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Aid from regional partners began arriving in Colombia on Wednesday as rescue teams intensified their search for survivors in the rubble left by a powerful earthquake that destroyed buildings, damaged roads and crushed vehicles. The disaster has put pressure on Colombia’s new President Abelardo de la Espriella and his government as they work to coordinate the emergency response, while civil society groups are also mobilizing assistance for the hardest-hit communities. De la Espriella said Wednesday evening that at least 265 people had been killed in Monday’s magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia. Nearly 500 people were officially reported missing, although civilian-run databases put the number at more than 4,100. More than 25,800 families have been affected, the president said. “Our efforts are focused on the disappeared,” he told reporters in the capital, Bogotá. Rescue teams continued searching through collapsed structures in the worst-hit cities of Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo as the chances of finding survivors alive diminished with each passing hour. Aid agencies say the first 48 to 72 hours are especially critical for rescue operations, although people trapped under rubble can sometimes survive longer if they have access to food and water. Alejandro Eder, the mayor of Cali, said Wednesday afternoon that rescue workers were still finding indications that people remained alive beneath the rubble. “The next 20 hours are the most critical to find and rescue people alive,” he said. “Every minute is vital.” Survivors pulled from rubble In Pereira, rescuers pulled Daniela Largo alive from the debris late Tuesday after a difficult 12-hour operation. Crews created a small opening to free her trapped arm, while a doctor administered intravenous fluids to stabilize her. Wrapped in a blue blanket, the young woman was carried to an ambulance as firefighters embraced and residents cheered. In another rescue operation in the same city, however, a man was pulled from a damaged building dead and covered with a white blanket. Authorities across the coffee-growing region, one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake, have turned sports arenas, schools and other public buildings into temporary shelters for thousands of displaced people. Ebert Jonathan Morales, a resident of Cali, said his family had lost everything. “My house was completely destroyed. We can't live there,” Morales said. “It collapsed. The floor collapsed, the walls cracked. The roof came down.” In Pereira and Cali, many families have been sleeping in parks, either because they fear aftershocks and further collapses or because they no longer have homes to return to. Colombia’s geological service has recorded 130 aftershocks since the main earthquake. “We have the most important things: a roof over our heads, food, water and, in my case, medical care,” said Edith Penagos, 48, who was staying with her teenage son in a white tent in a Pereira park. Rodrigo León Loya, a seismologist and geosciences professor at the University of the Andes, said the likelihood of another earthquake of similar strength occurring in the same area is low, but he cautioned that further seismic activity cannot be ruled out. “Let's remember that Colombia is full of active fault lines,” he said. “The question isn't whether it can happen again. The question is rather when an earthquake of similar magnitude will occur at another of Colombia's seismic sources.” Humanitarian crisis complicates responseThe official response has been particularly difficult in many parts of Choco, the region where the earthquake was centered. The area has long struggled with severe poverty and armed conflict that has displaced people for decades. The full extent of the earthquake’s impact in the remote, jungle-covered northwest remains unclear because cellphone services have been disrupted and many affected communities can only be reached by river. “This earthquake compounds an already severe humanitarian situation, and there is a need for increased support for the humanitarian response,” said Giovanni Rizzo, Colombia director for the Norwegian Refugee Council. Several humanitarian organizations were already operating in Choco, supporting the 2016 peace agreement between the government and leftist rebels and responding to continued violence involving other armed groups. Those organizations were able to quickly shift their operations toward earthquake relief, said María José Torres, the U.N. resident coordinator in Colombia. “We have a presence on the ground. Therefore, our ability to be there, present with the people, I think, has increased exponentially,” Torres said in a statement Tuesday. International aid arrives Meanwhile, assistance from foreign governments and international organizations continued to arrive in Colombia. The U.S. State Department said disaster response teams began arriving Monday. Washington has also offered more than $15 million in aid. Mexico said it sent two military aircraft carrying 19.5 tons of nonperishable food and 19 members of its security forces to Pereira. It plans to send another 39 tons of aid in the coming days. Another 255 military specialists and 20 dogs are on standby to deploy to Colombia if needed. El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele offered to send two planes carrying 100 tons of humanitarian aid. Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday expressed support for those involved in the recovery effort and said he was praying for those killed, injured and otherwise affected by the earthquake. “I want to express my solidarity with my Colombian sisters and brothers who have suffered the effects of the recent earthquake,” he said.

The search for survivors trapped under the rubble of Colombia’s powerful earthquake became increasingly urgent Wednesday as rescue teams raced against time to find signs of life. The disaster has put new President Abelardo de la Espriella and his government under pressure as they work to respond to the emergency, while civil society groups are trying to deliver assistance to vulnerable communities hardest hit by the quake. By Tuesday, de la Espriella said the magnitude 7.4 earthquake had killed at least 181 people and injured 2,595 others in western Colombia. He said at least 195 people remained missing, although databases maintained by civilian groups put the number closer to 4,000. Search teams worked through the night in the worst-affected cities of Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo, as the chances of finding victims alive diminished with each passing hour. Aid organizations consider the first 48 to 72 hours after a disaster critical for rescuing survivors, although the period can be extended when victims have access to food and water. There have been moments of hope amid the destruction, including rescuers pulling a dust-covered baby through a gap in a concrete wall and crowds cheering as a woman was carried from the rubble on a stretcher. In many areas, the government’s disaster response has been complicated by long-standing poverty and decades of armed conflict that have displaced large numbers of people. “This earthquake compounds an already severe humanitarian situation, and there is a need for increased support for the humanitarian response,” said Giovanni Rizzo, Colombia director for the Norwegian Refugee Council. The 2016 peace agreement between the government and rebels, along with the country’s continuing armed conflict, could help humanitarian organizations distribute food and other emergency supplies more quickly, said María José Torres, the U.N. resident coordinator in Colombia. Humanitarian organizations already have a presence in several conflict-affected areas as a result of the peace process, including Choco, which was at the epicenter of the earthquake. “We have a presence on the ground. Therefore, our ability to be there, present with the people, I think, has increased exponentially,” Torres said in a statement Tuesday. Meanwhile, international governments and nonprofit organizations continued sending assistance to Colombia. The United States has pledged more than $15 million in aid, while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country was ready to deploy hundreds of search-and-rescue and health workers, along with tons of medical supplies and other equipment. On Tuesday afternoon, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said El Salvador would send two planes carrying 100 tons of humanitarian aid in the coming days. “Our prayers are with the families of the victims, the wounded and all the Colombian people,” Bukele wrote on X.

At least 132 people have been killed and more than 480 injured after one of Colombia's strongest earthquakes in years struck the country, prompting the government to declare a national disaster as rescue teams searched for people believed to be trapped beneath collapsed buildings. The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck at 7:34 am local time Monday at a depth of 103 kilometers (64 miles) in Chocó province, according to Colombia's geological service. The powerful tremor was felt across a vast area of western Colombia. Many of the deaths were reported in Pereira, a city in the country's coffee-growing region, while surrounding areas and the Valle del Cauca region also suffered significant damage. The epicenter was near the village of San José del Palmar in Chocó province. Despite damage to roads leading in and out of the village, local mayor León Fabio Marín Moncada said there were no reported deaths or injuries there. Colombia's Association of Capital Cities said more than 480 people had been injured in the earthquake. Pereira, about 55 kilometers (34 miles) from the epicenter, was among the hardest-hit cities. Videos verified by the BBC showed at least one building collapsing in Plaza Bolívar, the city's main square, leaving debris and clouds of dust scattered across the area. Local authorities reported at least 40 deaths in Pereira's metropolitan area and said 65 buildings had collapsed. People were believed to be trapped inside 15 of those structures. A curfew was imposed in parts of Pereira until 5am Tuesday. In Cali, about 160 kilometers south of Pereira and roughly 200 kilometers from the epicenter, 32 buildings collapsed. Dan Cutler, 29, a London resident who has been traveling in Colombia with his partner for about two months, was in Cali when the earthquake struck. "I've never experienced anything like it," he told the BBC, saying they ran outside in their pajamas after being awakened by the tremor. He said their hotel suffered no major structural damage, although there were cracks in the walls and some paint and plaster had fallen away. Deaths were also reported in Manizales, Quibdó and Medellín, as well as in the Chocó and Valle del Cauca regions. At least two people were killed in Manizales. Angélica Ávila, who was staying at a hotel in Manizales, said cracks appeared in the walls as the earthquake struck. "Everyone was screaming," she told BBC World Service, adding that she saw dust coming from neighboring buildings and bricks falling from walls. Journalist and meteorologist Luis Felipe Molina, who was at home in Manizales, about 150 kilometers from the epicenter, said the city has strict seismic-resistant building regulations because of previous earthquakes. He said his building withstood the impact, although most of the books on his shelves fell and there were sounds of breaking glass and people screaming. Colombia's aviation authority reported damage at several regional airports, including those in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura. In the capital Bogotá, trees and traffic lights shook violently, and some buildings developed cracks, but there were no immediate reports of serious damage to major infrastructure. Tremors were also felt in neighboring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama. The earthquake struck less than two months after twin earthquakes devastated northern Venezuela, killing more than 6,300 people. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national disaster situation, giving authorities special powers to respond to the emergency and reallocate funds. The president, who took office only Friday, said more than 1,500 homes had been damaged. As the scale of the destruction became clearer, several countries offered support. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was closely monitoring the situation and was ready to assist. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU's Copernicus satellite system was being used to support rescue efforts. El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele expressed solidarity with Colombia and offered personnel and equipment to help with rescue operations. The U.S. Geological Survey estimated that about 1.5 million people experienced shaking close to magnitude 7. The agency said deep earthquakes such as Monday's are generally less dangerous than those occurring closer to the Earth's surface. However, they can still release energy capable of damaging buildings and may produce fewer but potentially stronger aftershocks. #From BBC

The death toll from the two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela last month has climbed to 5,069 as recovery and debris removal operations continue, authorities said on Friday. In a statement, the interim government of President Delcy Rodriguez said the number of injured remained unchanged at 16,740, the same figure reported over the past 11 days. Officials said the higher death toll resulted from ongoing search and recovery efforts, particularly in the coastal state of La Guaira, which suffered the worst damage from the June 24 earthquakes near the Caribbean Sea. Authorities have recorded 1,331 aftershocks since the twin earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5. According to the government, the quakes damaged 856 buildings, while 190 structures collapsed completely. Hundreds of other facilities, including bridges and roads, also sustained varying degrees of damage. Rescue, recovery and damage assessment operations are continuing in the affected areas, officials said.

Rescue workers on Thursday pulled a 43-year-old security guard alive from the basement of a collapsed shopping centre in Venezuela, eight days after powerful twin earthquakes devastated parts of the country. Hernán Alberto Gil Flores had been trapped beneath the rubble of the Galerías Playa Grande shopping centre in the coastal state of La Guaira since the earthquakes struck on June 24. Rescue teams first established contact with him several days after the disaster. Gil Flores was carried from the wreckage on a stretcher wearing an oxygen mask before being taken by ambulance to receive medical treatment, as rescuers from several countries celebrated the successful operation. The dramatic rescue offered a rare moment of hope after the twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, killed more than 2,200 people, injured over 11,000 and caused widespread destruction across northern Venezuela. According to rescuers, Gil Flores survived because he was inside a small security booth in the building's basement when the earthquakes struck. Although the surrounding structure collapsed, the booth remained largely intact, creating an air pocket that protected him from the falling debris. International rescue teams managed to keep him alive by supplying water and liquid nutrients through a narrow opening while carefully removing concrete and debris from the unstable structure. Minyar Collado of the Costa Rican Red Cross said Gil Flores initially asked rescuers not to inform his wife that he had been found alive until they were certain they could save him. His wife, Gusbimar González, said learning that rescuers had made contact with her husband after days of uncertainty renewed her hope. The couple have two children. The rescue operation was led by Chilean urban search and rescue firefighters, with assistance from teams from the United States, Portugal, Mexico, Costa Rica, El Salvador and Venezuela. Crews worked around the clock despite aftershocks, heavy rain and the risk of further collapse. Rescuers also used a telescopic camera to maintain contact with Gil Flores throughout the operation, while Chilean firefighter María Paz Campos provided reassurance and instructions during the final stages of the rescue. La Guaira was among the areas worst affected by the devastating earthquakes, which destroyed or damaged tens of thousands of buildings across northern Venezuela.

Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes have killed at least 1,943 people and injured more than 10,500, while thousands remain missing, according to official figures, as survivors increasingly accuse the government of a slow and poorly coordinated rescue effort. More than a week after the 7.2- and 7.5-magnitude earthquakes struck northern Venezuela on June 24, families continue searching for loved ones trapped beneath collapsed buildings in La Guaira state, Caracas and surrounding areas, with many saying civilian volunteers and foreign rescue teams have carried out much of the search and recovery work. Among them is Angelica Mundrain, who has spent six days waiting outside the ruins of her beachfront apartment building in La Guaira, hoping heavy machinery will arrive to recover the bodies of her son, niece and nephew buried beneath concrete and twisted steel. "We've been abandoned," Mundrain said, describing what she called a lack of organization, compassion and urgency in the government's response. The disaster has exposed significant weaknesses in Venezuela's emergency response system under acting President Delcy Rodriguez, with residents saying the first 72 hours after the earthquakes were marked by confusion and inadequate coordination. According to survivors, police and security forces were largely deployed to manage traffic while local residents, often assisted by foreign rescue teams equipped with thermal cameras, sound detection devices and trained search dogs, searched through the rubble. Ambulances reportedly faced long traffic delays, and hospitals struggled with shortages of personnel and medical supplies. David Smilde, a Venezuela expert at Tulane University, said the government's response reflects longstanding institutional problems, including the loss of experienced public-sector workers due to low wages and corruption. He said an effective disaster response requires trained personnel, established emergency protocols and clearly defined responsibilities. Residents also alleged that access to rescue equipment depended in some cases on wealth or political connections. Survivors said specialized machinery, including telescopic cranes, was deployed more quickly to buildings where military officers or politically connected individuals were believed to live, while other sites continued waiting for assistance. Public frustration has occasionally led to confrontations with equipment operators. At one collapsed public housing complex, residents reportedly blocked an excavator from leaving the site, insisting rescue operations continue. Rescue crews continued searching for survivors on Tuesday despite diminishing hopes of finding more people alive. Emergency experts say the first 48 to 72 hours after a major earthquake are generally the most critical for saving lives, although survival can be extended if trapped victims have access to food and water. Electrician Daniel Castillo, who rescued his mother and son from a collapsed public housing building shortly after the earthquakes, said his brother's body was recovered a day later. While collecting emergency hygiene supplies from a military distribution point, Castillo criticized the authorities' response, saying ordinary citizens and foreign rescue workers had shouldered much of the rescue effort while many security personnel remained largely uninvolved. He contrasted the dust-covered volunteers searching through debris with members of the National Guard whose uniforms, he said, remained spotless throughout the operation.

Rescue teams and volunteers continued searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings in Venezuela on Monday as hopes of finding more survivors from last week's devastating twin earthquakes diminished and concerns mounted over a prolonged humanitarian crisis. Five days after the disaster, relief agencies warned that the critical window for rescuing survivors was rapidly closing, although people trapped beneath the debris could still survive if they had access to food and water. The earthquakes have left thousands homeless, raising questions over whether the cash-strapped government can effectively coordinate long-term relief and recovery efforts. The official death toll has surpassed 1,700, according to government figures. Meanwhile, a magnitude 4.6 aftershock struck the northern state of La Guaira on Monday, adding to the anxiety of residents and rescue workers. Authorities said there were no immediate reports of additional damage. Government officials, facing criticism over the pace of the response, highlighted ongoing rescue and relief efforts. Police and military personnel distributed food to displaced residents, while authorities said electricity had been restored to 90 percent of La Guaira, one of the worst-hit regions. Jorge Rodríguez, head of the National Assembly, said engineers were assessing structurally damaged buildings and that 15 temporary camps had been established to shelter displaced families. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez also praised emergency responders after rescue workers pulled a survivor from the rubble following a 43-hour operation, describing every successful rescue as "a victory for hope." Despite occasional rescue successes, many families remained waiting near collapsed buildings for news of missing relatives. Residents were again shaken after Monday's aftershock, one of more than 600 recorded since the twin earthquakes struck last Wednesday. The tremor was felt in Caracas, where many people rushed out of buildings in fear. Rescue and recovery operations are continuing as authorities and humanitarian agencies race against time to assist survivors and address the growing needs of those displaced by one of the country's deadliest natural disasters.

Rescuers in northern Venezuela continued searching through collapsed buildings on Monday for survivors of last week's twin earthquakes as a 4.6-magnitude aftershock struck the disaster-hit state of La Guaira, adding to fears in the devastated region. With five days having passed since the powerful earthquakes, hopes of finding more survivors are fading. Relief agencies say the first 72 hours after a natural disaster are the most critical for rescue efforts, although survival is possible for longer if victims have access to food and water. The official death toll has risen to more than 1,700. Attention is now increasingly focused on the growing humanitarian crisis and whether the cash-strapped government led by acting President Delcy Rodríguez can effectively support thousands of people left homeless. Rodríguez took office in January after the Trump administration removed former President Nicolás Maduro from power. Amid criticism that the government's response has been too slow, state media has highlighted rescue efforts, including footage of Rodríguez visiting a shelter in the badly affected town of Catia La Mar and survivors being pulled from the rubble. However, such scenes remain uncommon in the hardest-hit areas, where families continue waiting for news of missing relatives. "We have to stay strong, even without food, without sleep," said Ana Rada as rescue workers searched for her brother. "Until I see the body, I still have hope." Aftershock sparks fresh panic Monday's aftershock struck about 27 kilometers (17 miles) north of Caraballeda on Venezuela's Caribbean coast. The United States Geological Survey measured it at magnitude 4.6, while Colombia's geological survey estimated it at 5.1. National Assembly leader Jorge Rodríguez said there were no immediate reports of additional damage. Still, the tremor sent frightened residents rushing into the streets in Caracas. "Here we are again, back in the street. I don't know when we'll have a moment of true peace," said Concepción Hernández, a resident of Caracas. The Caracas Metro temporarily suspended operations to inspect infrastructure following the aftershock. US expands disaster assistance The disaster has also increased attention on the Trump administration, which assumed control of Venezuela's oil industry earlier this year. A senior US State Department official said about 300 American first responders are working alongside international rescue teams. Around two dozen C-17 military transport aircraft are delivering relief supplies daily, while total US assistance has exceeded $300 million. The US military is also helping repair damage at La Guaira port to facilitate the arrival of aid shipments and assisting with air traffic management after part of the control tower at Simón Bolívar International Airport was damaged in the earthquakes. However, the administration is not expected to grant temporary legal protections to Venezuelans already living in the United States, despite similar measures being adopted after major earthquakes in Haiti in 2010 and El Salvador in 2001. The Trump administration has intensified immigration enforcement against Venezuelans, revoking temporary legal protections for hundreds of thousands and increasing deportation flights. Deported migrant joins rescue efforts Among those helping search through the rubble in La Guaira is miner Jean Sosa, who said he was deported from the United States in January after missing an immigration court hearing. Sosa said he returned to Caracas last month after a difficult journey through several countries and has since rescued 20 people alive while volunteering in the disaster zone. "I'm not involved in politics, but I believe many people could have been saved if there had been equipment and support from top authorities from the very beginning," he told AP. He said rescue teams continue to face shortages of basic equipment, forcing volunteers to work without gloves and improvise with limited supplies. Conflicting estimates of disaster's impactAuthorities and international agencies continue to offer sharply different estimates of the scale of destruction. Jorge Rodríguez said 15,866 people had been affected and 855 buildings had been damaged or destroyed. However, a preliminary assessment by NASA estimated that nearly 58,870 buildings were damaged or destroyed based on radar imagery from the European Space Agency's Sentinel-1 satellites. The United Nations estimates that up to 6.8 million of Venezuela's nearly 30 million people could be affected through displacement or disruption of essential services such as electricity and water. With communication networks badly affected, many Venezuelans have turned to online databases operated by non-governmental groups to report missing relatives. One such database has received reports of more than 50,000 missing people, although it remains unclear how many have since been found.

The death toll from the twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela has climbed to 1,450, with more than 3,000 people injured, senior lawmaker Jorge Rodríguez said on Sunday. The latest figure marks an increase of 20 deaths from the previously reported toll of 1,430. Rodríguez said 3,150 people have been injured and a total of 12,721 people have been affected by the disaster. He described the twin earthquakes as "the most brutal natural catastrophe that our country has suffered in its history" and said the country was passing through "critical hours" in efforts to save lives. According to the official, the number of buildings damaged or destroyed has also risen to 774. Meanwhile, the United Nations said there is still hope of finding survivors trapped beneath the rubble, although the window for rescue is rapidly closing. Speaking from La Guaira, UN Resident Coordinator Gianluca Rampolla said experts believe some people could still be alive because of the way certain buildings collapsed. However, he warned that "time is running short" and noted that extremely high temperatures were complicating rescue efforts. Emergency workers continue search-and-rescue operations across the affected areas as authorities race against time to locate survivors and provide assistance to thousands of displaced and injured residents. Source: BBC

Residents across northern Venezuela joined hands to search through collapsed buildings for relatives and neighbors after two powerful earthquakes struck the country, leaving more than 230 people dead and thousands injured. The official death toll climbed to about 235 by late Thursday, while at least 4,300 people were reported injured, according to Health Minister Carlos Alvarado. Authorities warned that the number of fatalities could rise further as thousands of people remain unaccounted for and rescue operations continue. The twin earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, hit on Wednesday evening. They were among the strongest earthquakes to strike Venezuela in over a century and were felt across much of the region. According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), as many as 6.76 million people across Venezuela may have been affected, including nearly 2 million residents of the capital, Caracas. Loyce Pace, the International Red Cross’ regional director for the Americas, said many people remain too frightened to return to their homes. Rescue teams and local residents pulled survivors from the rubble, many covered in dust and blood, including children. State television broadcast dramatic rescue scenes, including the successful rescue of a woman trapped beneath a concrete slab, with only one of her feet visible before rescuers managed to free her. However, government search and rescue teams were initially scarce outside Caracas. The coastal state of La Guaira, located north of Caracas, was among the worst-hit areas, suffering extensive damage and heavy casualties. The region is home to the country's main international airport, which was shut down after sustaining damage, further hampering relief operations.