Hopes fade in Colombia as more bodies recovered days after powerful quake
Search teams are recovering bodies from rubble nearly a week after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck 5 km south of San Jose del Palmar. While some cities reported no deaths, other areas suffered severe building collapses. The Colombian government has limited international assistance to rescue teams from four countries as the window for finding survivors narrows. Casualties include a 24-year-old groom-to-be and two of three triplets in one family. Recovery efforts continue as the government manages a restricted aid operation.
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- ✓ A magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred 5 km south of San Jose del Palmar, Colombia.
- ✓ Search teams are combing rubble nearly a week after the earthquake.
- ✓ The Colombian government will only accept rescue teams from four countries.
What changed
Search operations have transitioned to recovering bodies nearly a week after the initial quake.
Live updates
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Colombia recovers more bodies as earthquake search window closes
Search teams are recovering bodies from rubble nearly a week after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck 5 km south of San Jose del Palmar. While some cities reported no deaths, other areas suffered severe building collapses. The Colombian government has limited international assistance to rescue teams from four countries as the window for finding survivors narrows. Casualties include a 24-year-old groom-to-be and two of three triplets in one family. Recovery efforts continue as the government manages a restricted aid operation.
Why it matters
The disaster highlights significant disparities in building safety and infrastructure across Colombia. The magnitude 7.4 quake caused widespread destruction in some regions while leaving other urban centers untouched. Efforts are now shifting from rescue to recovery.
What is confirmed
- A magnitude 7.4 earthquake occurred 5 km south of San Jose del Palmar, Colombia.
- Search teams are combing rubble nearly a week after the earthquake.
- The Colombian government will only accept rescue teams from four countries.
Still unconfirmed
- A 24-year-old groom-to-be was found dead in the rubble of a collapsed building.
- Only one of a set of triplets survived the earthquake.
- A priest fled a church with the Blessed Sacrament and the faithful during the quake.
What to watch next
- Official release of total death and injury tolls
- Updates on the status of the four approved international rescue teams
confidence 90%Sources used for this update (10)
- The Economist — A big earthquake reveals two very different Colombias
- The Washington Post — How to beat an earthquake: The Colombian city where no one died
- Reuters — A tale of two buildings: how quake rescue efforts differed in Colombia and Venezuela
- People.com — Groom-to-Be, 24, Found Dead in Rubble of Collapsed Building Days Before His Wedding
- Reuters — Hopes fade in Colombia as more bodies recovered days after powerful quake
- cnn.com — Colombia’s earthquake tore apart this family with triplets. Only one survived
- USGS (.gov) — M 7.4 - 5 km S of San José del Palmar, Colombia
- Yahoo News New Zealand — Colombia says it will only accept rescue teams from four countries, as earthquake survival window closes
- Reuters — Search teams comb rubble in Colombia nearly a week after quake as aid effort expands
- EWTN News — Priest takes Blessed Sacrament and flees church with faithful during earthquake in Colombia
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