A 7.4-magnitude earthquake hits western Colombia; search and rescue workers continue to look for missing people and bodies

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake hit western Colombia five days ago, leaving hundreds of people dead or missing. As search and rescue crews continue to remove bodies from collapsed buildings, hopes of finding survivors are growing increasingly slim.

Reuters reported that the epicenter of the quake was in San Jose del Palmar, knocking down multiple apartment buildings and causing damage to schools, churches, hospitals and homes stretching from the Pacific port of Buenaventura to Colombia's coffee-producing regions and major cities in the west.

The Colombian Disaster Management Agency estimated today that the earthquake had killed at least 294 people, left 320 missing, and injured nearly 4,000 people. More than two-thirds of the deaths were concentrated in the two cities of Cali and Pereira.

Cali Fire Chief Alberto Hernandez told Reuters: "There are only one location where signs of life have been found. As for the other locations, we unfortunately have entered the stage of searching for remains."

Daniela Largo, a 32-year-old Colombian woman, was trapped in the rubble for nearly 37 hours after the strong earthquake. She was rescued in Perira on the 11th. The scene was filled with applause and cheers, and she immediately became a national symbol of hope. However, Largo died of her injuries on the 14th, leaving behind a 12-year-old son.

Cali, Colombia's third largest city with a population of more than 2 million, was severely affected. Search and rescue personnel spent the whole morning sifting through piles of rubble, broken bricks and metal steel bars, trying their best to search for the whereabouts of the missing people. Many residents also picked up brooms and shovels and began to clean up their communities.

Hernandez said they may complete the search for remains by tomorrow and will then begin using heavy machinery to clear the rubble.