Colombia declares three days of mourning after deadly earthquake | Earthquakes News

A whole lot are useless as rescuers race to search out survivors of the magnitude 7.4 quake.

Colombia has declared three days of nationwide mourning after a strong earthquake killed greater than 200 individuals as rescue crews race in opposition to time to find people trapped beneath the rubble.

The federal government stated on Wednesday that flags could be lowered to half-staff at official buildings and Colombian embassies around the globe “in honour of all of the useless”.

Monday’s magnitude 7.4 earthquake was the strongest to hit the nation in a century. It flattened buildings and broken roads throughout western Colombia. Greater than 100 aftershocks had been recorded by Tuesday afternoon.

The catastrophe can also be an early test for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took workplace simply three days earlier than the earthquake. The primary-time president got here to energy after a divisive election and is now dealing with the primary main disaster of his presidency.

Authorities figures put the variety of injured at 2,595 and the quantity formally lacking at 195 though civilian-run databases advised the variety of individuals unaccounted for may very well be nearer to 4,000.

The search for survivors has develop into more and more pressing because the catastrophe enters its third day. Help companies stated the primary 48 to 72 hours are usually probably the most essential for locating individuals alive beneath collapsed buildings though individuals can survive longer if they’ve entry to water and meals.

Crews labored by means of the evening in a few of the hardest-hit cities, together with Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo. In Pereira and Cali, rescuers used cranes, search canines and heavy equipment whereas volunteers fashioned human chains to clear particles by hand.

In Cali, complete neighbourhoods appeared flattened with piles of rubble the place blocks of houses and house buildings as soon as stood and automobiles crushed beneath concrete and fallen partitions. Residents have joined firefighters in searches for survivors, digging with picks, shovels and their naked palms and stopping periodically to pay attention for indicators of life.

However the full scale of the destruction continues to be unclear, significantly in rural areas the place little data has been popping out.

That features Choco close to the earthquake’s epicentre and one of many poorest areas within the nation. Many communities there can solely be reached by boat, by means of the jungle or by air. The area has additionally lengthy been affected by violence between armed teams, making it even tougher to succeed in distant areas.

The earthquake has put components of Colombia’s well being system beneath monumental pressure. A part of the Hospital Universitario del Valle in Cali collapsed, forcing medical doctors to maneuver sufferers right into a parking zone and deal with some individuals outdoors.

Colombians have mobilised to assist. Hundreds have introduced meals, water and different provides to affected neighbourhoods whereas lengthy traces have fashioned outdoors blood donation centres.

De la Espriella has declared a state of emergency and promised lease subsidies for households who misplaced their houses.

Worldwide assist has additionally began to reach. The USA has introduced $15.5m in emergency support, and the State Division introduced on Wednesday that following a request from de la Espriella’s authorities, it was deploying city search-and-rescue technical groups from Fairfax County, Virginia, and Los Angeles County, California, to assist with the search effort.

The European Union has additionally pledged $2.3m, whereas Mexico has provided tons of of search and well being employees, and El Salvador stated it could ship two planes carrying 100 tonnes of support.

However for rescue crews, the fast focus stays looking the rubble.