Colombia faces one of its greatest recent tragedies after the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook the country on Monday morning. The most recent balance raised the number of dead to 224 and more than 900 injured, while the search for survivors among collapsed buildings continues.

Due to its intensity, the earthquake was felt in large areas of Colombian territory and also in neighboring countries. Authorities continue to assess the full extent of the damage.

During the first hours after the earthquake, specialized teams from the Army, police, firefighters and volunteers were deployed to the most affected areas.

The work is concentrated especially in Cali, Pereira, Quibdó and other towns in the Coffee Region, where dozens of buildings suffered serious damage or were completely destroyed, according to local media.

In Pereira, emergency teams have used heavy machinery, in addition to carrying out manual searches to try to locate people who could still be alive under the remains of the buildings.

In one of the collapsed structures, rescuers estimated that several people could remain trapped, Reuters reported.

In Cali, one of the most affected cities, authorities reported 95 deaths, 949 injuries and 45 structures with total collapse in a preliminary assessment. Part of a hospital also suffered damage, forcing hundreds of patients to be transported and treated outside the building.

The emergency has also left numerous people without housing. According to information cited by RTVE, the Colombian Red Cross estimates that more than 1,500 homes have been damaged in different parts of the country.

Pereira appears among the towns with the greatest damage. The Reuters report counted 72 deaths in that city, while in the department of Chocó, where the epicenter was located, at least 13 deaths had been confirmed.

The earthquake also caused structural damage in Manizales and other cities in the coffee region. In some areas, fear of new aftershocks has led residents to remain on the streets or seek refuge outside their homes.

The authorities have also established night curfews in Cali and Pereira, accompanied by security operations in response to reports of possible looting. The Colombian Government announced the deployment of around 1,000 security personnel in the affected areas.

The priority, more than 24 hours after the earthquake, continues to be finding survivors and caring for thousands of people affected by the destruction of homes, hospitals and infrastructure.

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