Colombia earthquake death toll rises to 254 as rescue efforts stall amid governance concerns

At least 254 people have died following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday, according to government figures released by Al Jazeera Global News. The disaster has caused significant loss of life, with the majority of fatalities concentrated in the cities of Cali and Pereira. As rescue operations continue, the crisis has exposed fractures in the newly elected government’s capacity to manage a coordinated national response.

The earthquake, which occurred at 7:34 am local time, caused dozens of buildings to collapse entirely and damaged approximately 5,000 homes, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. In Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, local statistics indicate that at least 95 people have died and 45 structures have suffered full or partial collapse. The most critical rescue efforts are focused on the Vanessa Building, a seven-storey residential block that fell onto a neighbouring nursery.

Volunteers and emergency responders are currently attempting to reach an estimated 17 children trapped beneath the nursery rubble. Maximiliano Herrera, a local volunteer coordinating efforts at the site, confirmed that two children, identified as Samuel and Sara, have shown signs of life but are located in an inaccessible corner of the debris. Rescuers have utilised heavy machinery donated by private construction firms and formed human chains to clear rubble, working through the night to locate survivors.

In response to fears of looting in a city with high crime rates, Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder has imposed a curfew from 8 pm to 6 am and militarised the city. The measure restricts movement to essential workers, including rescue teams and medical staff, as residents report risky expeditions into damaged apartments to retrieve valuables. The mayor’s office has received support from firefighters and rescue teams from Bogota and Medellin, alongside significant contributions from private sector entities.

The disaster presents the first major test for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who was inaugurated in Cali on Friday. While the president has pledged support and met with local leaders, residents in harder-hit areas such as Buenaventura have reported feeling neglected. Criticism has emerged regarding the lack of centralised leadership, with residents and volunteers describing the government response as disorganised and unevenly distributed compared to less affected regions like Manizales and Armenia.