Colombia Earthquake Search Shifts to Recovery as Death Toll Tops 260

Colombia's Earthquake Response Passes the 72-Hour Mark

Rescue teams in western Colombia have begun moving from search-and-rescue operations to debris removal in much of Cali, the country's third-largest city, more than 72 hours after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the country. At least 265 people have been confirmed dead and about 500 remain missing, according to authorities.

The tremor hit shortly after 7:30 a.m. local time on Monday, collapsing residential buildings and damaging homes, schools and hospitals across the coffee-growing west of Colombia. In Pereira, another hard-hit city, Enrique Marin described driving more than ten hours from Bogotá after learning that his mother was trapped under the rubble of her home. She was pulled out six hours later with vital signs, but died on the way to hospital.

More than 150 aftershocks have been recorded since the main earthquake, increasing the danger for crews working on unstable debris and adding to the anxiety of survivors. The shift in Cali away from active search operations is the clearest sign that the response is entering a more difficult phase after the critical first 72 hours.

President Abelardo De La Espriella, who took office only days before the disaster, said the government would declare an economic emergency and create a reconstruction fund to direct national and international resources toward rebuilding hospitals, schools, housing and infrastructure.

Why the Rescue Shift and Emergency Declaration Matter

The significance of Cali's pivot to debris removal

The decision by rescue teams in Cali to focus on removing rubble in most locations is an operational signal that the highest-probability window for finding survivors is closing. The first 72 hours after a major earthquake are generally when live rescues are most likely. After that, effort shifts toward recovering remains, securing dangerous structures and clearing sites for longer-term reconstruction. That this change is happening in Colombia's third-largest city, not only in isolated rural areas, shows the scale of the damage and the pressure on rescue capacity.

The early political test for a days-old government

President Abelardo De La Espriella campaigned on reducing public spending, but the earthquake is now forcing his administration to mobilize emergency resources quickly. The announcement of an economic emergency and a reconstruction fund are the first major policy decisions of his presidency. In the short term, the government will be judged less on long-term fiscal discipline and more on how quickly aid reaches Cali, Pereira and surrounding communities. A slow or poorly coordinated response could be politically costly for an administration with no governing track record yet.

Why aftershocks and aid standards are prolonging uncertainty

The more than 150 aftershocks recorded since the main earthquake are not only frightening survivors. They also increase the risk to rescue workers moving through unstable debris and can temporarily pause operations, reducing an already narrow rescue window. Separately, the government has pushed back against criticism of its handling of foreign aid. Officials said Colombia has not rejected offers from any country, but will accept only international search-and-rescue teams that meet recognized certification standards. That position may be operationally defensible, but it will need clear communication while families are still waiting for news.

What Families, Residents and Aid Teams Should Expect Next

For people directly affected by the earthquake and for organizations preparing to assist, the next phase will be shaped by several concrete developments from the official response.

• Families searching for missing relatives should use official local lists as affected municipalities consolidate information, because the live-rescue window has narrowed beyond 72 hours.
• Residents in western Colombia should treat aftershocks as an ongoing danger; more than 150 have been recorded, so damaged buildings should not be re-entered until authorities confirm they are safe.
• Businesses and property owners in the coffee-growing region should prepare for state-of-emergency procurement and reconstruction fund rules, with hospitals, schools, housing and infrastructure identified as priority areas for rebuilding.
• International search-and-rescue teams should verify that their certification meets Colombian standards before mobilizing, because the government says it will only accept teams that meet recognized certification criteria.