Hope reborn in Colombia as signs of life emerge under earthquake debris

Rescuers carry the body of a victim from the rubble four days after an earthquake hit Pereira, Colombia, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. Search and rescue teams from Venezuela, Argentina, and Israel joined the search for survivors following the 7.4 magnitude quake that struck Colombia on Monday, killing at least 287 people. At 96 hours since the temblor hit, the window for survival was narrowing. At 96 hours since the temblor hit, the window for survival was narrowing. The mayor of Pereira, Mauricio Salazar, told radio station FM that “contact was made with a woman who was asking for help amid the rubble” of a collapsed hotel at around 4 a.m. He suggested other people may have survived but were still trapped. Authorities in Cali also reported apparent signs of life, saying at least three people were trapped under collapsed buildings. The search and rescue effort has been extended through Saturday. Colombia faced another challenge: rebuilding a nation shattered by a disaster that affected more than 100,000 people. Tens of thousands of houses were damaged or destroyed, according to the government. Authorities have also reported damage to thousands of schools, medical facilities, and community centers in more than 400 cities. Ebert Jonathan Morales, 38, said, “We lost everything.” Morales, whose family is rebuilding from scratch, said, “The earthquake destroyed several neighborhoods in the city. Many houses were damaged, and buildings collapsed.” President Abelardo de la Espriella acknowledged the situation was complex and announced a plan to partner with private companies for reconstruction, along with subsidies for homeless families. The government has yet to deliver aid in some areas, where many rely on volunteers and neighbors for help. Olga Castro, a mother of five in Cali, said, “We don’t have a home anymore.” De la Espriella visited several cities to track relief efforts, including Quibdo and Pereira. Authorities are waiting for tons of supplies and humanitarian aid from countries like Peru, China, the United States, and the United Arab Emirates. The Trump administration announced an additional $11 million in humanitarian aid, bringing the total U.S. assistance to $26.5 million. In Bogota, around 500 volunteers gathered to sort supplies, including food, toiletries, and pet food, before distributing them. María Mercedes Liévano, director of Save the Children in Colombia, noted the crisis in neglected territories, citing communities like Buenaventura and Choco. Many areas lack basic services, and volunteers are delivering hygiene kits and assessing medical needs. In Pereira, at least one shelter is full, and water access is limited in Roldanillo, where 60% of residents lack clean water. Yezid Alvarado Vargas, a professor in construction engineering at Javeriana University, emphasized the need for a technical assessment before reconstruction, ensuring temporary housing, food, healthcare, and economic support for affected families.