The death toll from the devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia has risen to 213, with more than 900 people injured and about 3,000 still missing as rescue workers search for survivors in the rubble of collapsed buildings.
According to reports, 95 deaths have been confirmed in Cali, 66 in Pereira, 38 in the department of Valle del Cauca, excluding Cali, nine in Quibdó and five in Manizales.
Colombian mayors also reported that 165 buildings collapsed following the earthquake.
Cali and Pereira “present the most critical situation, with collapsed structures and people trapped,” according to a report released by the Colombian Association of Capital Cities on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, Bogotá and Medellín, the two largest and most populous cities in the country, have not reported serious damage and have continued to keep their verification protocols active, the report added.
Colombia’s President, Abelardo de la Espriella, who was inaugurated last week, swiftly declared a state of national emergency as international leaders pledged support for rescue and relief operations.
Nearly 24 hours after the earthquake struck, emergency responders continued to grapple with the scale of the crisis as rescue teams searched for survivors.
Emergency workers, assisted by police officers, soldiers and volunteers, continued rescue operations in the affected areas.
Colombia’s military also released footage on its social media accounts on Tuesday showing the deployment of personnel, medical equipment and emergency supplies as authorities intensified their response to the disaster.
Footage from the Defence Ministry showed troops loading cargo planes and preparing campaign beds for displaced residents and emergency workers. President De La Espriella was also seen meeting soldiers before boarding a helicopter.
The deployment comes as rescue teams continue searching collapsed buildings for survivors in some of the worst-hit cities, including Pereira, Cali, Quibdó and Manizales.