- Search teams worked through the rubble of collapsed buildings in western Colombia on Sunday, nearly a week after a powerful earthquake devastated cities and towns across the country’s west, killing hundreds and leaving many more missing, injured or homeless.
- In Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, emergency workers continued searching unstable piles of concrete and twisted metal on Sunday as rescue efforts increasingly gave way to the recovery of bodies.
- Aftershocks have added to the danger for crews working in damaged neighborhoods and for residents still unable to return home.
- In Bogota, the capital, a stadium has been turned into the country’s biggest donation collection center, with volunteers working around the clock to sort and load food, clothing, medicine and other basic supplies for affected areas. Coordinating organization Sencia said more than 7,000 volunteers had helped dispatch 700 tons of aid over five days.
- In Pereira, authorities were also extending emergency help to injured pets and distributing donated animal food, underscoring the wider strain on families whose incomes and homes have been upended by the disaster.
- De La Espriella said on Sunday that Colombian billionaire banker Jaime Gilinski, who also controls food company Nutresa, would donate 150 billion Colombian pesos ($47.75 million) to rebuild hospitals and schools in Gilinski’s hometown Cali.
Search teams in Colombia are working tirelessly through the rubble of collapsed buildings nearly a week after a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck San Jose del Palmar, causing widespread destruction across the western region.
The quake has resulted in an official death toll of around 290, with 140 individuals still unaccounted for and nearly 4,000 injured.
Most fatalities occurred in Cali and Pereira, where numerous structures, including homes, schools, and hospitals, were severely damaged or destroyed.267
In Cali, emergency workers are transitioning from rescue operations to the grim task of recovering bodies from unstable debris.
Aftershocks continue to pose significant risks for both search crews and residents who are unable to return to their homes.
In response to the crisis, a stadium in Bogota has been transformed into the largest donation collection center in the country, with volunteers working around the clock to sort and distribute essential supplies.45
Over 7,000 volunteers have contributed to the effort, dispatching 700 tons of aid within just five days.
Additionally, authorities in Pereira are providing emergency assistance to injured pets, highlighting the broader impact of the disaster on families.
This earthquake marks the first major challenge for President Abelardo De La Espriella, who assumed office shortly before the disaster and is now tasked with overseeing relief and reconstruction efforts.
In a significant gesture, Colombian billionaire Jaime Gilinski has pledged 150 billion Colombian pesos (approximately $47.75 million) to aid in rebuilding hospitals and schools in Cali.
“In Bogota, a stadium has become the country's biggest donation center, with Sencia reporting over 7,000 volunteers dispatching 700 tons of aid in five days. Billionaire banker Jaime Gilinski pledged 150 billion Colombian pesos ($47.75 million) to rebuild hospitals and schools in his hometown Cali.”
