Race to reach trapped survivor offers hope in Colombia quake zone

Rescuers in Colombia raced to free a man found alive under a collapsed hotel in Pereira, a rare sign of hope nearly four days after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country on Monday. Authorities reported 285 killed, nearly 4,000 injured, and about 400 missing. The quake, centered in San José del Palmar, damaged tens of thousands of homes. The UN warned of fresh displacement, and the World Bank disbursed $200 million for emergency response.

Rescuers in Colombia raced against time on Friday to free a man found alive beneath a collapsed hotel in Pereira, a rare sign of hope nearly four days after a powerful earthquake struck the Andean nation. The 7.4-magnitude quake hit shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Monday, with its epicenter in San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. It toppled apartment blocks and damaged homes, schools, and hospitals across western Colombia, from the Pacific port of Buenaventura to the inland cities of Cali and Pereira. Authorities said on Friday morning that 285 people had been killed and nearly 4,000 injured, with nearly 400 others still missing. The government reported tens of thousands of homes damaged and many destroyed, leaving many Colombians sleeping in shelters or outside unsafe buildings. The operation in Pereira had become the main focus of a disaster response increasingly shifting from search-and-rescue to clearing debris and accounting for the missing. The UN refugee agency warned the quake could trigger fresh displacement in a country already grappling with conflict and migration. The disaster is shaping up as the first major test for President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office just days before the quake and has faced criticism for his initial handling. He planned flying visits to five affected cities on Friday. The World Bank said it had disbursed $200 million for emergency response and launched a damage assessment to help prioritize aid.