[Anchor]

At the earthquake-stricken sites, even local residents are stepping up with their bare hands to carry out desperate searches for survivors. With the number of missing people estimated to have surpassed 2,000, authorities are also struggling to grasp the exact scale of the damage as communications and roads remain cut off in many areas.

Reporter Yu Deok-gi has the details.

[Reporter]

[Elda! Elda!]

Desperately calling out the names of family members who failed to escape, firefighters search through the collapsed debris.

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

[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 regions such as Pereira and Cali.

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

Residents are fighting a desperate battle, sifting through piles of debris with their bare hands to find missing people trapped underneath.

[Leidy Alvarez / Resident (Assisting in rescue operations) : One day, someone trapped inside could be a relative. With these situations happening, how can we remain indifferent?]

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

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

[Andres Urbano / 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 my wife is dead or alive.]

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 support search and rescue operations.

[Abelardo de la Espriella / Colombian President : 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 extensive jungle and mountainous terrain. Due to the earthquake, communications have been cut off and roads blocked in various places.

Consequently, it is expected to take time to determine the exact scale of casualties and damage, including deaths and missing persons.

(Video Editing : Chae Cheol-ho, Design : Seo Seung-hyun, Video Source : X@enotroangulo)