Rescuers desperately dig for survivors as Colombia quake death toll hits 239

CERRITO, VALLE DEL CAUCA, COLOMBIA - AUG. 12, 2026: Colombia declared three days of mourning Wednesday to honor the victims of Monday’s devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake which left at least 239 people dead, more than 3,700 injured and extensive destruction across the country’s western region.The government announced that national flags will fly at half-mast on all public buildings and Colombian diplomatic missions abroad in memory of the victims. The quake is the deadliest to strike Colombia so far this century, leaving heavy damage across communities along the Pacific coast and throughout the country's coffee region.Emergency crews worked around the clock alongside volunteers in major cities such as Pereira and Cali. Using heavy machinery, search dogs and specialized cranes supplemented by human chains clearing rubble by hand, rescuers raced to locate people trapped beneath collapsed buildings."We are doing everything possible to ensure that during this critical window of opportunity, more people can be found alive," said Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella.Amid mounting criticism regarding the vetting of foreign assistance, President De la Espriella appointed geologist David Santiago Tamayo as the new director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD). The agency, which was embroiled in high-profile corruption investigations during the previous administration of President Gustavo Petro, is responsible for deploying resources during national emergencies.(Footage by Jorge Eliecer Bastidas Barreto/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)