A powerful earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 169 people and leaving many trapped under the debris of damaged and destroyed buildings. The 7.4 magnitude earthquake rattled cities and towns, including Cali, Quibdo, and Pereira, with around 1,600 buildings reported damaged or collapsed.

Search and Rescue Efforts

Soldiers, rescue personnel, and families picked through the rubble, removing and passing large pieces of concrete by hand down lines of volunteers. The Colombian Association of Capital Cities reported that the preliminary death toll rose to 169, with most deaths reported in major cities.

Families posted information about missing loved ones on citizen-run websites, with over 2,700 people reported missing by Monday night. Dana Carolina Zamora posted an image of her missing 60-year-old uncle, Miguel Ángel Zamora, who lived in a rural area of El Cairo, near the epicenter of the quake in San Jose Del Palmar.

Local authorities said 80% of El Cairo, a town of about 7,000 people, was damaged. Zamora said she worried because her uncle lived in a traditional but fragile house made of sticks and mud. The region surrounding the quake’s epicenter, Choco, is one of the poorest and most neglected regions of Colombia, often beset by warring armed groups.

International Response

The U.S. State Department announced it would provide $15.5 million for emergency shelter, food, and other aid. Governments across Latin America also lined up to help. The earthquake presents the first major test for Colombia’s new leader, who was sworn in on Friday and has pledged an all-out crackdown on criminal groups.

Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.