Colombia Marks Three Days of Mourning After Deadly Earthquake

Colombia has officially marked three days of national mourning following a devastating earthquake that claimed more than 200 lives and left hundreds missing. The government announced on Wednesday that flags would fly at half-staff across official buildings and embassies worldwide to honor those who lost their lives in this tragedy.

This magnitude 7.4 tremor was the most powerful quake to strike the nation in a century, flattening structures and damaging roads throughout western Colombia. By Tuesday afternoon, authorities had recorded over 100 aftershocks as rescuers raced against time in the hardest-hit cities like Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo.

The disaster serves as an immediate test for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office just three days prior to the event. A first-time leader emerging from a divisive election, he now faces his most significant challenge yet while trying to coordinate relief efforts. Official figures list 2,595 injured and 195 people missing, though civilian databases suggest the number of unaccounted individuals could be closer to 4,000.

Finding survivors has become increasingly urgent as the disaster enters its third day. Aid agencies warn that the first 48 to 72 hours are critical for locating people trapped beneath collapsed buildings, although survival is possible longer if water and food remain available. Crews worked through the night using cranes, search dogs, and heavy machinery while volunteers formed human chains to clear debris by hand in places like Pereira and Cali.

In Cali, entire neighborhoods appeared flattened with piles of rubble where homes once stood. Cars lay crushed beneath concrete and fallen walls as residents joined firefighters, digging with picks and shovels or using their bare hands. They stopped periodically to listen for any signs of life from those still trapped inside the ruins.

However, the full scale of destruction remains unclear, especially in rural areas where little information is surfacing. This includes Choco near the epicenter, one of the country's poorest regions that many communities can only reach by boat through jungle terrain or via air drops. The area has long suffered from violence between armed groups, making remote access even more difficult for rescue teams.

The earthquake placed immense strain on Colombia's health system, forcing doctors at the Hospital Universitario del Valle in Cali to move patients into a parking lot and treat others outside after part of the building collapsed. Despite these challenges, Colombians have mobilized quickly with thousands bringing food, water, and supplies while long lines formed outside blood donation centers.

President de la Espriella declared a state of emergency and promised rent subsidies for families who lost their homes to the quake. International assistance has also begun arriving as the United States announced $15.5 million in emergency aid. The State Department confirmed it was deploying urban search-and-rescue technical teams from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County, California upon request from the Colombian government.

The European Union pledged an additional $2.3 million, while Mexico offered hundreds of search and health workers. El Salvador said it would send two planes carrying 100 tonnes of aid to support the relief effort. Yet for rescue crews, the immediate focus remains searching through the rubble where hope hangs in the balance for every trapped soul.