Colombia Quake Rescue Enters Critical Phase as Toll Rises

KEY DEVELOPMENTS:

• Colombia’s earthquake death toll has risen to 265, with hundreds still reported missing.
• Rescue teams are racing against the critical 72-hour window to locate survivors beneath collapsed structures.
• International humanitarian assistance has begun reaching affected areas as the UN scales up its response.

BOGOTA (Arab News) — August 13, 2026: Rescue teams in Colombia continued searching collapsed buildings on Wednesday as authorities entered a critical phase of operations following a powerful earthquake that struck the country’s western regions.

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake, which struck on Monday, has killed at least 265 people and injured more than 3,500, according to figures cited by Colombian authorities. Nearly 500 people were also reported missing as emergency teams continued efforts to locate survivors.

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The latest figures represent an increase from earlier casualty estimates as rescue workers gain access to more affected areas. The quake caused extensive damage in cities including Cali and Pereira, while roads and other infrastructure were also affected.

Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said rescuers were working against time to reach people who could still be trapped beneath the rubble.

“We are in a race against time to save lives,” Eder told reporters, stressing the importance of maintaining silence and order around collapsed structures so rescue teams could detect possible signs of life.

Rescuers work at the site of a collapsed building following an earthquake, in Cali, Colombia, August 10, 2026. — Reuters.

He added that rescue operations would continue beyond the initial 72-hour period, but urged teams to make the most of the remaining critical window.

Search operations in Cali have focused on several collapsed buildings where authorities believe survivors could still be located. Rescue workers, soldiers, firefighters and volunteers have worked together to remove debris and search for people trapped underneath.

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Officials have also warned that aftershocks and unstable structures could create additional risks for rescue personnel and people gathered near damaged buildings.

In Pereira, one of the worst-affected areas, authorities reported significant casualties and damage. Residents have described desperate efforts to escape damaged homes, while families continued waiting for information about relatives who remain missing.

Rescue workers carry survivor Daniela Largo after pulling her from the rubble the day after an earthquake struck Pereira, Colombia, on August 11, 2026. © Fernando Vergara, AP.

The earthquake has also affected Colombia’s coffee-growing region, with landslides disrupting some transport routes. Colombia is one of the world’s major coffee producers, making the condition of roads and ports important for the sector and the wider economy.

International Assistance Reaches Colombia

Regional and international assistance began arriving as Colombia intensified its emergency response. The United Nations said it was scaling up support for communities affected by the earthquake, while humanitarian supplies and assistance from regional partners were also being mobilised.

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Colombian authorities have continued coordinating foreign assistance alongside domestic search-and-rescue operations. Officials said the focus remained on finding survivors, treating the injured and supporting communities whose homes and livelihoods were damaged.

President Abelardo de la Espriella said the government’s immediate priority was those still missing.
“Our efforts are focused on the disappeared,” he said, according to reporting on the government’s response.

People take refuge in a gymnasium serving as a temporary shelter following an earthquake, in Manizales, Colombia, on August 12, 2026. (Reuters).

The government has also faced the challenge of coordinating rescue operations while dealing with damaged infrastructure and the scale of the disaster.

As rescue teams continue working through unstable structures, authorities have urged people to avoid unnecessary movement around damaged buildings and allow emergency personnel to operate safely.

The casualty figures are expected to remain subject to revision as search teams reach more affected locations and authorities complete assessments.

For families waiting for news of missing relatives, however, the priority remains unchanged: finding survivors and bringing them to safety.

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