▲ Major Earthquake in Colombia
As the death toll from the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia rises to 250, emergency rescue teams are engaged in a desperate struggle to find survivors.
According to foreign media reports, including Reuters on the 12th (local time), the death toll from the strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake that occurred around 7:34 a.m. on the 10th in the San Jose del Palmar area of Choco Department on the Pacific coast has been tallied at 250.
The number of injured is reported to have reached 2,595.
Newly inaugurated Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella stated that there are at least 195 missing persons, though reports have also emerged putting unofficial figures near 4,000.
Rescue workers are working through the night to save as many survivors as possible within the so-called golden time.
The 48 to 72 hours following an earthquake are considered the golden time during which people trapped in debris can be rescued.
After this period passes, the likelihood of survival without a water supply drops sharply.
CNN introduced the so-called rule of fours, which states that a person trapped in the debris can survive for 4 minutes without sufficient air, 4 days without water, and 4 weeks without food.
However, it also reported that in special environments, survival times can be significantly longer regardless of such rules.
More than 70 aftershocks following the 7.4-magnitude quake are making rescue operations even more difficult.
In particular, the situation is being exacerbated by the fact that Choco Department, where the damage from this earthquake is concentrated, is an impoverished and isolated administrative district.
Since most of Choco is jungle, outside of the capital city of Quibdo, the vast majority of villages lack even decent road networks.
With many remote areas inaccessible except by light aircraft or ships and communication networks cut off, it is impossible to even assess the actual situation in many places.
Despite these adverse conditions, rescue teams continued their search for survivors by rummaging through debris in hard-hit cities such as Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo.
Miraculous rescue stories were reported from various collapsed buildings.
Rescue workers pulled a dust-covered baby from a gap in a concrete wall.
When rescuers placed a woman on a stretcher, people around them even cheered.
However, AP reported that in many areas, the crisis caused by long-standing extreme poverty and civil war is making disaster response even more difficult.
Colombia has experienced forced displacement due to decades of conflict.
Giovanni Rizzo, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) country director for Colombia, urged increased support, stating, "This earthquake is further worsening an already severe humanitarian situation."
Countries around the world are extending helping hands to Colombia.
The South Korean government plans to provide 1 million USD (approximately 1.416 billion KRW) in humanitarian aid to support recovery from the earthquake damage in Colombia.
This assistance is scheduled to be delivered through international organizations operating locally.
The United States stated it would provide more than 15 million USD (approximately 21.25 billion KRW), and Mexico announced it is ready to dispatch hundreds of search and medical personnel along with medical supplies and equipment.
Neighbouring El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele stated that he would dispatch two aircraft carrying 100 tons of relief supplies within days.
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