Rescuers scramble for survivors with 180 dead in Colombia earthquake

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Rescuers scramble for survivors with 180 dead in Colombia earthquake

BBC World · 2 hours ago

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing more than 180 people, with the cities of Cali and Pereira worst affected. President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a state of emergency as rescue teams race to free survivors trapped under collapsed buildings, with fresh aftershocks continuing into Tuesday.

The official death toll stands at 181, though local officials' aggregated figures suggest it could exceed 240, with almost 2,600 people injured and around 200 still missing. In Cali, 95 people have died and 239 remain trapped, including patients in a partially collapsed hospital, while four children were killed when part of a school collapsed; a curfew has been imposed to prevent looting. In Pereira, 79 people have died and a car-free day has been introduced to aid the search, with hundreds of volunteers clearing rubble by hand. More than 1,100 homes have been destroyed and 8,000 damaged, with over 70 aftershocks recorded since the initial quake.

  • Colombia earthquake death toll passes 180, could exceed 240
  • Cali and Pereira worst hit; hundreds still trapped or missing
  • State of emergency declared; curfews and car-free days aid rescue

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