APTOPIX Colombia Earthquake

The search for life in the rubble of Colombia’s powerful earthquake is growing more desperate as search teams push up against a key time threshold to locate survivors before it's too late. The devastation is testing Colombia's new president as his government scrambles to respond to the natural disaster and ensure aid makes to the vulnerable communities most affected by Monday's quake and more than 100 aftershocks. At least 265 people died, and hundreds have been reported missing. Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours crucial for retrieving people alive, though that limit can be extended if those trapped have access to food and water.

Two powerful earthquakes less than two months apart have exposed stark differences in how neighboring Venezuela and Colombia respond to catastrophe. While civilians in Venezuela dug through rubble by hand for days, Colombia mobilized rescuers and equipment within hours. The contrast reflects deep differences in resources, political systems and institutional strength between Colombia and Venezuela, where years of economic crisis, mass migration and political repression have weakened state capacities and public trust. The disasters were not identical, but for Venezuelans watching Colombia’s response, the contrast has offered a stark measure of what their country has lost.