Bogota, Aug 13 (V7N)- The death toll from the powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia has risen to 265. More than 3,500 people have been injured and nearly 500 remain missing, according to the country’s emergency management authority.
Qatar-based media outlet Al Jazeera reported the latest figures in a report on Wednesday.
Rescue teams are continuing round-the-clock operations to locate people trapped under the rubble. Authorities are treating the first 72 hours after the earthquake as a critical window for rescuing survivors.
Heavy machinery, cranes and trained sniffer dogs are being deployed to search through the remains of collapsed buildings. Thousands of local volunteers have also joined government rescue teams in the emergency response.
Meanwhile, an emergency blood donation campaign has been launched across the country to help hospitals treat the large number of injured people. Thousands of citizens have gathered at hospitals to donate blood.
Thousands of residents are also spending nights outdoors after their homes were damaged or destroyed. Many are reluctant to return to even apparently intact buildings because of the continuing threat of aftershocks.
Authorities fear the death toll and number of missing people could rise further as rescue operations continue and teams reach areas that remain difficult to access.
END/SMA/AJ
