At least 239 people have died and more than 3,700 have been wounded in the earthquake that shook Colombia’s Pacific coast this week, authorities said Wednesday, numbers that are expected to continue to climb as rescue and recovery operations continue.
At least 287 people remain missing following the 7.4-magnitude temblor Monday, the strongest to hit the country in at least a decade.
The earthquake, which struck Monday morning, brought down 140 buildings and left nearly 50,000 homeless.
Responders continued to search Wednesday for survivors trapped in rubble. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder warned that the “most critical” window to find survivors was closing.
The United States and other countries are assisting Colombia with search-and-rescue teams and aid shipments. The State Department has committed $15.5 million for emergency shelter, food protection and assessment; urban search-and-rescue teams from Los Angeles County and Virginia’s Fairfax County are joining the effort.
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