CALI, Colombia, 14 August, 2026 (Nosheen): Rescue workers in Colombia called for silence around collapsed buildings on Thursday as they listened for signs of life beneath the rubble of a deadly earthquake, racing against time to find more survivors.The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, killing at least 281 people and leaving hundreds missing. Authorities said 348 people had been rescued alive from the debris.David Santiago Tamayo, director of Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, said the chances of finding survivors were declining, but rescue teams would continue searching for everyone reported missing.Emergency agencies consider the first two to three days after an earthquake the most critical period for locating survivors. However, people trapped beneath rubble can survive longer when they have access to food and water.Despite the deteriorating conditions, rescuers, families and volunteers across Colombia continued to hold on to hope.Volunteer rescuer Daiana Rojas said she believed two more people could still be alive beneath the rubble in Cali. She said rescuers had been hearing sounds since early Thursday morning, keeping hopes alive.
Rojas and her family survived the earthquake, which was described as the most powerful to hit Colombia this century. She has since volunteered in rescue efforts in Cali, one of the hardest-hit cities, as well as other affected areas.She said she had witnessed two people being pulled alive from the rubble and had also seen bodies recovered. According to Rojas, whenever rescuers call for silence, everyone stops moving and speaking to help detect possible sounds from survivors. When signs of life are discovered, rescue teams and volunteers applaud in celebration.The disaster has posed a major challenge for President Abelardo de la Espriella’s government as authorities work to coordinate rescue operations and deliver assistance to severely affected communities.The president said nearly 400 people remained missing, although civilian-run databases reported more than 4,200 missing people. More than 3,900 people were injured, while nearly 10,600 homes were destroyed and more than 65,800 damaged. Overall, more than 44,900 families have been affected.Authorities acknowledged that rescue operations had entered a difficult phase, with some teams beginning to shift their focus toward recovering bodies. However, officials stressed that saving lives remained the top priority.
A 4.2-magnitude aftershock struck San José del Palmar in the Chocó region on Thursday, near the earthquake’s epicenter. The Colombian Geological Survey said more than 160 aftershocks had been recorded across the country.International assistance has also begun arriving. Colombian Vice President José Manuel Restrepo said around seven tons of humanitarian aid had reached the Chocó region, with additional supplies expected to arrive in the following days.A team of rescuers from the Los Angeles County Fire Department arrived in Colombia to assist with search operations and structural assessments. Peru, El Salvador, Mexico and Brazil have also offered assistance.The United Arab Emirates announced a $10 million donation to Colombia, while China said it would provide $1 million in financial assistance and more than $2 million in humanitarian aid.The South American Football Confederation and the Colombian Football Federation also announced a joint $1 million donation to support reconstruction efforts.As rescue teams continue working through unstable rubble and difficult conditions, families across the country remain hopeful that more survivors can still be found.