Earthquake in Colombia: death toll rises to 240. Woman rescued alive after 30 hours

The president Abelardo de La Espriella has announced an aid programme for those affected by the earthquake, speaking in Pereira, one of the cities hardest hit by the quake. “For three months,” he said, “we will be offering those affected by the earthquake the chance to access all public services free of charge. We must do whatever is necessary to help the people. It broke my heart to walk through the streets of your city and see so many shops closed and destroyed. Furthermore, the law authorises us to set up an aid programme for people who have lost their homes. I am thinking of a grant to help them move house and provide them with a safe haven. Then, at a later stage, we will go into their homes and work on repairing them,” he concluded.

“Anyone who can come and help, please come to the Ospedale Universitario del Valle. I have many patients trapped in intensive care; we need to get them out – the hospital has collapsed.” This was the desperate appeal posted on social media by the surgeon Juan Gallego just a few minutes after the earthquake. The images posted on Instagram show the extensive damage to the hospital, one of the best-known private clinics in the centre of Cali.

“At this moment, we know that there are at least 10 people trapped and we can confirm at least one fatality, but we fear there may be as many as five.” This was the initial provisional assessment given by the director of the Valle University Hospital. The earthquake caused an entire wing of the hospital to collapse, and there are fears for the fate of the trapped children. According to television footage, at least four storeys of one section of the hospital have collapsed. “The collapse affects 30 per cent of the building, particularly the paediatric and intensive care wings,” confirmed Dr Irne Torres to Radio Caracol, describing the situation as “a tragedy within a tragedy” caused by the earthquake.

“We are working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to monitor the situation: at present, there are no reports of Italian nationals in danger in the areas most affected by the earthquake.” This was stated by the Italian Ambassador to Bogotá, Giancarlo Curcio.

“I am following the updates on the devastating earthquake that has struck Colombia with great concern. At this difficult time, Italia stands in solidarity with the Colombian people, the families affected and all those involved in the rescue and relief efforts.” This was posted on social media by the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

“The Italian Red Cross (Cri) stands alongside the Colombian Red Cross and the population affected by the earthquake that has struck Colombia in the last few hours, and is ready to provide its support for the emergency response efforts.” This is stated in a press release explaining that the president of the Cri, Rosario Valastro, has sent a message to Dr Juvenal Francisco Moreno Carrillo, Executive Director of the Colombian Red Cross, expressing “the CRI’s solidarity and the full readiness of its volunteers to support their Colombian counterparts”. “We stand with you and your people, and we are at your disposal for whatever you may need,” wrote Valastro.

The Pope is ‘deeply saddened’ by the tragic earthquake that has severely affected several areas of Colombia, ‘causing deaths and numerous injuries, as well as serious material damage, including to many churches’. This is stated in a message signed by the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin. The Pope expresses his “deepest condolences” to the families who, “at this time of profound grief, are mourning the loss of their loved ones. He also assures them of his spiritual closeness and expresses his gratitude to all those who, with generous dedication, are working on search and rescue operations and providing assistance to the victims’.

A woman has been rescued in Cali after being trapped for 30 hours under the rubble following the earthquake. “We will not rest until we succeed,” the mayor had promised on social media, referring to the efforts that had been underway for hours to free the young woman. The post was accompanied by a photo showing Diana’s face – that is the survivor’s name – through a gap between the reinforced concrete and the bricks of the collapsed building. Her rescue was joyfully announced by the mayor himself after more than thirty hours of efforts by the rescue teams to clear a safe passage through the rubble. “Thank God, and thanks to all the rescue workers and volunteers, Diana has been saved,” wrote Eder in a second post. The rescue, broadcast live on television, was met with a long round of applause from the crowd and the emotional relief of the young woman’s mother, who had been anxiously following the rescue efforts from the very beginning.