"Rescuing Even One More Person" Desperate Search... Over 2,000 Missing

[Anchor]

At the earthquake disaster sites, even residents have stepped up with their bare hands in a desperate search to find survivors. With the number of missing people estimated to have exceeded 2,000, difficulties persist in grasping the exact scale of the damage as communications and roads have been cut off in many areas.

Reporter Yu Deok-gi has the details.

[Reporter]

[Elda! Elda!]

People desperately call out the names of family members who failed to escape.

A firefighter searches among the collapsed debris.

[Fire Rescue Worker: Hello! If you can hear my voice, please shout!]

[Resident: I heard a small sound.]

With over 5,000 buildings collapsed or damaged, desperate rescue operations continue for a second day in major earthquake-hit areas such as Pereira and Cali.

[Fire Rescue Worker: (Dead or alive) There is no one!]

Residents are struggling to find trapped and missing people by clearing piles of rubble with their bare hands.

[Lady Alvarez / Resident (Supporting rescue operations): Someday, someone trapped inside could be a relative of yours. With situations like this happening, how can anyone remain indifferent?]

In Cali, a 6-month-old baby trapped under a collapsed five-story building was miraculously rescued along with her mother.

However, rescue operations remain sluggish due to a shortage of manpower and equipment, and the number of missing persons reported to a private database has surpassed 2,700.

[Andres Burbano / Family member of a missing person: As you can see, the apartment where I lived was completely destroyed, and my wife was inside. Our family does not know whether she is alive or dead.]

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office three days before the earthquake, declared a state of national emergency and deployed military troops to assist with rescue and search 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.]

Choco Department, where the earthquake struck, features many jungle and mountainous terrains. Due to the earthquake, communications have been cut off and roads are blocked in various places.

Consequently, it is expected to take time to ascertain the exact scale of casualties, including the dead and missing.

(Video Editing: Chae Chul-ho, Design: Seo Seung-hyun)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.