CALI, Colombia (AP) 鈥� With arms raised and fists clenched, rescuers called for silence Thursday as they listened for signs of life in the rubble left by a deadly earthquake that has killed more than 270 people and left hundreds more missing.
The call for quiet was part of last-ditch efforts to find survivors in the aftermath of the 7.4-magnitude quake that struck the South American country Monday. Aid agencies consider the first two to three days after a quake to be for retrieving survivors. But that time frame can be extended if those trapped have access to food and water.
鈥淭here might be two more people alive here, and I鈥檓 hopeful,鈥� rescuer Daiana Rojas, 25, told The Associated Press. 鈥淲e have been hearing sounds since 2:30 a.m., so our hope remains.鈥�
Rojas and her family were unharmed by the quake, the most powerful to hit Colombia in this century. She has been working as a volunteer to help search for survivors in Cali, one of the most affected cities, along with Pereira, Manizales and Quibd贸.
鈥淚 thought that was going to be my last moment alive,鈥� she said, recalling the terror of the quake. 鈥淪eeing this situation in my city breaks my heart.鈥�
Rojas has witnessed two people being pulled alive from the debris, as well as the recovery of bodies.
鈥淭hey are not a relative or a friend of mine, but it feels as they were,鈥� she said of the survivors who have been found. 鈥淲henever rescuers ask for silence, everyone stays still and tries not to move, speak or whisper. But when signs of life are found, all the teams start to applaud.鈥�
The mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, told reporters Wednesday that rescue teams continue to find signs of life under the rubble and race to save anyone within reach. 鈥淭he next 20 hours are the most critical to find and rescue people alive,鈥� he said.
But authorities recognize that the rescue effort is entering a grim phase as search teams begin shifting toward recovering bodies.
鈥淭he removal of debris begins now; more than 72 hours have passed,鈥� Milton Castrill贸n, who works in the Cali mayor鈥檚 office, told AP, adding that the teams now lean on 鈥渕iracles from God to find survivors.鈥�
The death toll rose Thursday to 273, authorities said.
Over 3,800 people were reported injured, with nearly 12,600 homes destroyed and more than 74,800 homes damaged, according to David Santiago Tamayo, director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.
The Colombia鈥檚 new president, , and his government as they scramble to respond while aid groups seek to help the most heavily damaged communities.
De la Espriella said Wednesday that nearly 500 people were reported missing, though civilian-run databases put that number at more than 4,200. In total, more than 25,800 families have been affected, de la Espriella said.
Meanwhile, Colombia received more international aid from around the world.
A group of rescuers from the Los Angeles County Fire Department arrived Thursday to help with search efforts and structural engineering assessments. Other countries, including Peru, El Salvador, Mexico and Brazil, have also offered assistance.
De la Espriella announced on X that Colombia will receive a $10 million donation from the United Arab Emirates.
The South American Football Confederation and the Colombian Football Federation also jointly announced a $1 million donation to support reconstruction efforts.
鈥淪occer transcends the pitch and remains close to its people, especially in the most difficult times,鈥� they said in a joint statement.
The Colombia disaster unfolded less than two months after neighboring , and was stark.
In Venezuela, waited nearly four hours before addressing the nation. In Colombia, de la Espriella announced an emergency command post to oversee rescue efforts barely an hour after the earthquake. For weeks, Venezuelan through rubble by hand. Hours after the earthquake in Colombia, rescue teams were searching for survivors with cranes and excavators.
The contrast was a reminder of the differences between the nations 鈥� their political systems, resources and the strength of their institutions 鈥� and a demonstration of how those can take on life-or-death importance.
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Suarez reported from Bogota, Colombia. Batschke reported from Santiago, Chile.
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