Colombia earthquake: Baby rescued from rubble

Key Points:

• A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, the strongest in over a decade, killing more than 200 people and causing widespread destruction, including the collapse of a five-story residential building in Cali.
• Brian Osorio Zuluaga and other volunteers rescued a trapped man and baby from the rubble of Las Torres del Limonar building, highlighting the bravery and unity of local residents during the disaster.
• Search and rescue operations entered their third day, with emergency responders and volunteers forming human chains to clear debris and save survivors, especially in hard-hit cities like Cali and Pereira.
• Indigenous communities in Chocó, Colombia’s poorest region and near the earthquake epicenter, remain without aid, facing destroyed homes and urgent needs for food and medicine, with difficult access by boat.
• The earthquake poses an early major challenge for Colombia’s new far-right president, Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office recently and has pledged a tough stance on crime and militancy.