Hundreds still missing in Colombia as desperation grips earthquake rescue effort

Hopes of finding more survivors of the powerful earthquake that rocked Colombia early this week were fading on Thursday as rescue workers narrowed their searches, while families in the worst-hit areas waited for news of missing relatives.



In Cali, the country's third-largest city, crews have shifted from a search-and-rescue effort to debris removal at most sites, a sign the disaster response was entering a grimmer phase after the crucial first 72 hours.



Mayor Alejandro Eder said nine search-and-rescue efforts remained active, and called for silence in these areas so rescue workers could listen for signs of survivors.



The 7.4-magnitude quake struck shortly after 7:30 a.m. local time on Monday, toppling apartment blocks, damaging homes, schools and hospitals and sending residents into the streets across western Colombia, home to the country's coffee farms.