A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, marking the country's strongest quake this century. The disaster has killed 265 people, injured 3,770, and left nearly 500 missing. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced, and more than 9,550 homes were destroyed.
Rescue workers have been racing against a critical 72-hour window to find survivors beneath collapsed buildings. As that threshold neared its end on Thursday, hopes of locating more survivors began to fade. Search teams are now shifting their focus from search-and-rescue operations to debris removal at many sites.
The devastation has tested President Abelardo de la Espriella and his government as they scramble to respond to the disaster and provide aid to affected communities. President de la Espriella has promised to establish an emergency fund to help rebuild destroyed schools and hospitals.
Survivors now face a long road to recovery characterized by grief and uncertainty. While rescue efforts scale back, families in the worst-hit areas continue to wait for news of missing relatives.