Death Toll Exceeds 250 in Powerful Colombia Earthquake as Rescue Teams Race Against Time

[Anchor]

The death toll from the earthquake in Colombia has surpassed 250. With the number of missing persons exceeding 3,000, casualties continue to rise.

Our first report today, August 12, comes from Park Jaehyeon.

[Reporter]

A rescue worker raises a fist to signal for silence in order to listen for sounds from survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

[There is a person here!]

Upon confirming a survivor, rescue workers and citizens cheer and rush to clear the rubble together.

This marks the second day since a magnitude 7.4 strong earthquake struck western Colombia, collapsing numerous buildings, as a desperate struggle continues to find survivors within the golden time.

[Eduardo Ojeda / Rescue Worker : We are currently in the process of rescuing two survivors. We have about two hours to rescue each of them.]

The death toll from the earthquake has climbed to 254, and the number of missing people has surpassed 3,000.

While rescue operations are underway in various areas, teams are facing difficulties due to a shortage of personnel and equipment.

In particular, Choco Department, where the earthquake struck, consists largely of jungles and mountainous terrain. The earthquake severed communications and cut off roads in multiple places.

Additional damage from aftershocks remains a major concern.

[Stephen Hicks / Researcher, University College London (UCL) : Following a large earthquake, thousands of aftershocks are expected. Even weaker shaking from aftershocks can cause already damaged buildings to collapse.]

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national state of emergency and ordered the deployment of military troops to support search and rescue operations.

[Abelardo de la Espriella / President of Colombia : With God's help and the efforts of the new government, we will surely overcome this disaster that has plunged Colombia into sorrow.]

South Korea's Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that no casualties among South Korean expatriates have been confirmed thus far.

(Video Editing: Kim Byung-jik, Video Source: X @enotroangulo)

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