Colombia Quake Toll Climbs Past 150 as Rescue Teams Race Against Time

Rescue crews in Colombia are working around the

Rescue crews in Colombia are working around the clock, using sniffer dogs and aerial drones to locate survivors buried in the wreckage of a powerful earthquake that has claimed at least 150 lives. The tremor, the most violent to shake the country in ten years, struck with little warning, leveling homes and trapping dozens beneath the rubble in affected towns and cities.

Local officials confirmed the rising death count on Tuesday morning, noting that the figure is expected to grow as search-and-rescue operations continue in the hardest-hit areas. Emergency workers are focusing their efforts on collapsed buildings, where faint sounds from beneath the debris have been detected in some locations. In several neighborhoods, residents have joined the official teams, using their bare hands and basic tools to dig through concrete and twisted metal.

The quake’s epicenter was recorded in a mountainous region, but tremors were felt strongly in the capital and other major urban centers, sending panicked residents into the streets. Hospitals in the affected zones have been overwhelmed, with medical staff treating hundreds of injured, many suffering from crush wounds and fractures. Authorities have set up temporary shelters for those displaced, as aftershocks continue to rattle the region, complicating relief efforts.

President Gustavo Petro has declared a state of

President Gustavo Petro has declared a state of emergency, pledging federal resources to support the recovery and promising a full investigation into building codes that may have contributed to the high number of casualties. International aid offers have poured in, with neighboring countries and global agencies dispatching specialized rescue units and medical supplies. Meanwhile, families wait in anguish outside cordoned-off sites, hoping for news of loved ones still missing.

As daylight fades, the search intensifies, with officials warning that the chances of finding more survivors diminish with each passing hour. Still, rescue teams remain determined, citing past operations where people were pulled alive from similar disasters days later. The nation, still reeling from the shock, now faces the long and painful task of healing, while the world watches and lends its support.