Colombia earthquake rescue timeline — Main Street Independent

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Rescue teams race against time to find survivors two days after the 7.4 magnitude quake in western Colombia.

Colombia earthquake death toll climbs past 280 as hundreds remain missing

Rescue teams pulled nearly 350 people from the wreckage of Monday's 7.4-magnitude earthquake in western Colombia as the death toll climbed past 280 and hundreds remained missing, according to authorities. Colombian President Abelardo de la…

2026-08-14 · 3 MIN READ

Colombia rescuers race the clock as quake survival odds fall

Rescue teams in western Colombia are searching for survivors two days after a powerful deadly earthquake struck the region.
Experts say most rescues happen in the first 24 hours after a disaster, and the chances of survival drop with each day that passes.
Trapped victims whose injuries are not too severe can survive for a week or more, experts say, when the weather is not too hot or cold.
After Japan's 2011 earthquake and tsunami, a teenager and his 80-year-old grandmother were found alive after nine days in their flattened home.
In 2010, a 16-year-old Haitian girl was rescued from earthquake rubble in Port-au-Prince after 15 days.

2026-08-12 · 3 MIN READ

7.4-magnitude earthquake kills at least 132 in western Colombia

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 132 people, according to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities.
More than 570 people were injured as of Monday afternoon, the Colombian Association of Capital Cities reported.
The quake collapsed and severely damaged scores of buildings in main cities, including Cali and Pereira, where rescuers searched for survivors in the rubble.
US and Colombian geological surveys placed the epicenter in the western department of Chocó, and the tremor was felt in neighboring Venezuela.
President Abelardo de la Espriella said the national government has all of its capabilities deployed, with rescuing people trapped under the rubble the first priority.

2026-08-11 · 3 MIN READ

Venezuela earthquake rubble raises risk of secondary health crisis

More than a month after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela's northern coast, residents of La Guaira face growing environmental hazards from accumulated rubble, decomposing remains, and contaminated water, public health and environmental…

2026-07-29 · 3 MIN READ

Illustration accompanying article: Venezuela earthquake rubble raises risk of secondary health crisis