Colombian volunteers and rescuers sifted through rubble with bare hands and buckets on Tuesday, hunting for survivors following a massive 7.4-magnitude quake that has claimed the lives of at least 132 people and injured 570 others.
The quake struck several cities across Colombia's picturesque coffee region and Pacific shortly after 7:30 am on Monday, sending panicked residents onto the streets and damaging at least 1,500 buildings.
"People ran out naked, people jumped from the second floor of their homes" Wilmer Cuesta, a law student in Quibdo told the AFP news agency, recounting violent temors.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, just three days after being sworn into office, declared a state of emergency and vowed a concerted rescue effort.
In Cali, volunteers quickly went to work with picks, basic tools and their own hands to try to find survivors. Andres Felipe Mejia was among those who joined a makeshift crew.
