CALI, Colombia (AP) 鈥� Rescuers reported apparent signs of life under the rubble in two of the hit hardest by a massive earthquake, rekindling hopes Friday that more people could be found alive.
Search and rescue teams from Venezuela, Argentina and Israel joined the search for survivors following the 7.4 magnitude quake that struck the South American nation on Monday, killing at least 287 people. At 96 hours since the temblor hit, the Friday afternoon.
The mayor of Pereira, Mauricio Salazar, told radio station FM on Friday that 鈥渃ontact was made with a woman who was asking for help amid the rubble鈥� 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.
Residents who lost their homes must start over again
With the overall search for survivors winding down, Colombia faced another challenge: 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.
鈥淭here is no place to live, we lost everything,鈥� Ebert Jonathan Morales, 38, said Friday in a shelter in Cali.
Morales is one of the 102,263 people whose lives were upended by the quake. The government says nearly 4,000 people were injured and . Private groups estimate the number of missing is in the thousands.
Morales said he, his wife and four children are trying to rebuild from scratch.
鈥淭he earthquake destroyed several neighborhoods in the city. Many houses were damaged, and buildings collapsed,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e are going to stay here until the government gives us some help, some support.鈥�
The government focuses on providing shelter
The Colombia鈥檚 President , who was inaugurated just days before the earthquake shook the country’s west. De la Espriella Thursday night that 鈥渢he situation is complex鈥� and announced a plan to partner with private companies to rebuild, as well as subsidies for families who are homeless.
鈥淲e will not overcome this tragedy alone as a government,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e need the private sector to rebuild Colombia together.鈥�
Monday鈥檚 earthquake was the most powerful to hit Colombia this century. Government aid has yet to arrive in some areas, where many people are relying on volunteers and neighbors for help.
鈥淎 neighbor is giving me shelter,鈥� Olga Castro, a mother of five in Cali, said. 鈥淎t least we survived, but right now we are practically on the street because we don鈥檛 have a home anymore.鈥�
De la Espriella said national and international funds raised in response to the disaster will focus on the reconstruction of hospitals, schools, homes, roads and airports.
requires a 鈥渟erious technical assessment鈥� to determine which buildings can be used, which can be repaired and which must be demolished and rebuilt, said Yezid Alvarado Vargas, a professor in construction engineering at Javeriana University, in Bogota, Colombia.
鈥淏efore even discussing reconstruction, we must guarantee temporary housing, food, healthcare, continuity of basic services and economic support for families who lost their homes or livelihoods,鈥� Alvarado said.
In Bogota, Colombia鈥檚 capital, around 500 volunteers gathered at a reception center to sort food, toiletries and pet food before distributing the supplies in the most affected areas. From youngsters to the elderly, everyone diligently participated in the challenging relief efforts.
鈥淲e all have to help. Today is for you, tomorrow might be for me,鈥� volunteer Jorge Mu帽oz, 85, said. One of the oldest helpers at Bogota’s Vive Claro aid collection, Mu帽oz has witnessed the devastation caused by other earthquakes, including one in 1999 that killed more than 1,180 people.
National and international aid keeps coming
Authorities have converted schools, parks and public buildings into shelters, providing tents, mattresses and food to the displaced. In other hard-hit cities, residents improvised shelters in the streets, while hundreds of volunteers in hard-to-reach areas.
鈥淭hese are isolated, neglected territories, historically lacking in institutional support, already plagued by violence, and now they are hit by an earthquake of this magnitude,鈥� said Mar铆a Mercedes Li茅vano, director of Save the Children in Colombia.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a crisis on top of a crisis, leaving the population in a situation of extreme vulnerability,鈥� she added, citing communities including Buenaventura, the country鈥檚 main port, and Choco, the earthquake鈥檚 epicenter.
Many buildings in Pereira have limited or no access to electricity and water, and volunteers have been delivering hygiene kits to displaced families in the city’s shelters, said Pamela Londo帽o, a technical adviser with Project HOPE. Of the five or six shelters in the city, at least one is already full and no longer accepting new residents. The nonprofit is also assessing medical supply needs.
Other , such as the town of Roldanillo, where approximately 60% of residents do not have access to clean water.
鈥淭he main concern is the lack of basic services for multiple communities,鈥� Londo帽o said. 鈥淭his is a really critical situation.鈥�
De la Espriella visited several cities to track relief efforts and aid distribution, including Quibdo, in the Choco region, and Pereira. Authorities are still waiting for tons of supplies and humanitarian aid from countries that have pledged their support, including Peru, China, the United States and the United Arab Emirates.
鈥淢y heart, my strength and my spirit are with all the victims and with all these territories that have been forgotten and now devastated by nature,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e must rebuild them. There is a great task ahead and I am committed to it.鈥�
The Trump administration announced Friday an additional $11 million in humanitarian aid 鈥� including food, health, protection and shelter assistance 鈥� bringing the total U.S. assistance following the earthquake to $26.5 million.
The U.S. 鈥渃ontinues to coordinate with Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella and the Colombian government to assess and respond to earthquake-related needs,鈥� the State Department said in a statement.
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Suarez reported from Bogota, Colombia and Batschke reported from Santiago, Chile.
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