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Colombia has declared three days of national mourning on Wednesday after an earthquake killed over 200 people and destroyed buildings across the western part of the country.
President Abelardo de la Espriella declared the state of emergency and promised rent support for families affected by the disaster.
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake, which struck on Monday, was the strongest to hit Colombia in a century.
The government said flags would be flown at half-staff on official buildings and Colombian embassies worldwide “in honor of all the dead.”
Rescue teams have continued searching collapsed buildings in Pereira and Cali, using cranes, sniffer dogs and heavy machinery.
Volunteers have also formed human chains to clear rubble by hand.
The death toll was revised to 216 after officials in Cali corrected earlier figures.
Rescuers are racing against time to find survivors, with experts saying the first 72 hours after an earthquake are critical.
The earthquake has also left thousands of survivors without homes.
Many spent the night outdoors because their houses were damaged or they feared aftershocks.
In Cali, part of the Hospital Universitario del Valle collapsed, forcing doctors to move patients to a parking area, where some were treated in the open air.
The disaster has triggered a major public response, with residents donating food, water and other supplies.
The United States has announced $15.5 million in emergency aid, while other countries have offered support and assistance.
