RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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PEREIRA, Colombia \u2014 Crews painstakingly searched through rubble Tuesday in the hopes of finding survivors trapped under debris after a powerful earthquake left thousands missing in dozens of cities and towns in western Colombia.Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said at least 181 people died in the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Monday. He said around 2,595 more were injured and at least 195 remained missing. Civilian-run databases suggest the number of missing could be as high as 3,800.De la Espriella also said 1,136 homes were destroyed and yet more damaged.Authorities said the deaths were concentrated in cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo, but local leaders and families worried about casualties and damage in rural areas, from where very little information has emerged.Soldiers, rescue personnel and families picked through the rubble on Tuesday, passing large pieces of concrete by hand along lines of volunteers.Standing near the remains of his brother's collapsed apartment building in Pereira, Jairo Vargas said he made the 220-kilometer (135-mile) drive from Medellin, hoping to find him alive."I'm absolutely certain he's here. Absolutely certain," Vargas said, adding that his brother's car was still parked outside. But he fears his sibling did not survive."The debris surrounding my brother is soft," he said, as heavy machinery rumbled through the debris. "It's possible that it's protecting him, but we can't hear any noises anymore. I don't know. I have little hope."Colombia's new president faces his first serious challengeThe earthquake presents the first major test for first-time officeholder de la Espriella, who entered office just days before the natural disaster. The leader, who split the country in recent elections, now seeks to unite Colombia in its disaster response.That challenge was particularly notable in Choco, the region surrounding the quake's epicenter. It is one of Colombia's poorest and most neglected regions, often beset by warring armed groups. Much of Choco is accessible only by boat, through the jungle or by airplane.Sterling Palacios, a religious and environmental leader in rural parts of the region, said Choco's capital was devastated along with smaller communities dotting the Atrato River, the region's most important throughway. A neighbor rides past damaged homes a day after an earthquake struck Pereira, Colombia, on Tuesday. At least 181 people have been killed. (Phot
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