Rescuers continued efforts to find survivors trapped in rubble following a powerful earthquake that struck Colombia, leaving at least 180 people dead. The nation experienced numerous aftershocks on Tuesday as the scale of the devastation became clearer.
In the city of Pereira, near the earthquake's epicenter, residents described widespread shock and impassable city centers. One resident reported that buildings had collapsed in Bolívar Square, the city's main plaza, and that other structures were precariously damaged, trapping vehicles and raising fears of further collapses.
The city of Manizales reported five fatalities, with Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas stating that 60 buildings in the city had been either partially or completely destroyed. Rojas urged the public to disregard unverified information circulating on social media to prevent unnecessary alarm.
International solidarity has been expressed for Colombia in the wake of the disaster. A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres stated that the UN is working to support the government's response. Spain's Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares, reported that 164 Spaniards remained unaccounted for, though no Spanish citizens were reported injured or dead at that time.
Offers of assistance have also come from Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador, and Venezuela. The U.S. administration announced a donation of $15.5 million to aid the recovery efforts.
