Rescuers in Colombia are calling for silence around earthquake rubble as they race against time to find survivors, with the critical window for rescue narrowing. A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country on Monday, killing at least 265 people and leaving hundreds more missing.
Search-and-rescue teams are employing last-ditch efforts to locate survivors, listening intently for any sounds beneath the debris. Aid agencies typically consider the first 48 to 72 hours after an earthquake to be the prime period for retrieving survivors, though access to food and water can extend this timeframe.
"There might be two more people alive here, and I’m hopeful," said Daiana Rojas, a 25-year-old volunteer rescuer working in Cali, one of the hardest-hit cities. "We have been hearing sounds since 2:30 a.m., so our hope remains."
Rojas described the terror of the quake, which she called the most powerful to hit Colombia in this century. She has been volunteering alongside efforts in other affected cities, including Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdó. "I thought that was going to be my last moment alive," she said. "Seeing this situation in my city breaks my heart."
Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder stated that rescue teams continue to find signs of life under the rubble and are working urgently to save anyone they can reach. "The next 20 hours are the most critical to find and rescue people alive," he said on Wednesday.
The aftermath of the earthquake presents a significant challenge for Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, and his government as they manage the response and coordinate with aid groups assisting heavily damaged communities. Official figures indicate nearly 500 people are reported missing, though some civilian databases list over 4,200 missing. More than 25,800 families have been affected by the disaster.
Rojas has witnessed both survivors and bodies being recovered from the debris. "They are not a relative or a friend of mine, but it feels as they were," she said of the survivors found. "Whenever rescuers ask for silence, everyone stays still and tries not to move, speak or whisper. But when signs of life are found, all the teams start to applaud."