Rescuers race to free survivor in Colombia quake zone

Rescuers in Colombia are in a race against time to free a man found alive beneath a collapsed hotel in Pereira, nearly four days after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the nation. The disaster response is increasingly shifting from searching for survivors to clearing debris and accounting for the missing.

Emergency crews are working at the site in Pereira, with one rescuer expressing hope that one or two people might still be alive. The earthquake, which hit on Monday, caused widespread destruction across western Colombia, toppling buildings and damaging infrastructure.

Authorities have reported 285 deaths and nearly 4,000 injuries, with approximately 400 people still missing. Tens of thousands of homes have been damaged or destroyed, forcing many residents to seek shelter elsewhere. The UN refugee agency warned that the earthquake could exacerbate displacement in a country already dealing with conflict and migration.

President Abelardo De La Espriella, who took office shortly before the quake, is facing criticism for his initial response and is scheduled to visit several affected cities, including Pereira.