Search efforts continue in Colombia after deadly 7.4-magnitude earthquake

BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Search and rescue teams in western Colombia continued working through the rubble of collapsed buildings on Thursday, days after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the San José del Palmir region. Official estimates put the death toll at approximately 290, with around 140 people still missing and nearly 4,000 injured, according to government figures. More than two-thirds of the fatalities were recorded in the cities of Cali and Pereira, where homes, churches, schools and hospitals were damaged or destroyed. In Cali, rescuers sifted through concrete blocks and twisted metal, with operations gradually shifting from rescue efforts to body recovery. Aftershocks have complicated the work of emergency crews and raised safety concerns for residents unable to return to their homes. In the capital Bogotá, a stadium has been converted into the country's largest aid collection point. The organization Sencia said more than 7,000 volunteers helped channel over 700 tons of relief supplies within five days. In Pereira, authorities expanded emergency assistance for injured pets as part of broader support measures for families who lost their homes and livelihoods.