Hopes fade in Colombia as more bodies recovered days after powerful quake

Hopes of finding survivors of the earthquake that struck western Colombia five days ago were dwindling on Saturday, as more bodies were pulled from buildings that collapsed due to the 7.4-magnitude quake that left hundreds dead or missing.



The earthquake struck just after 7:30 a.m. in San Jose del Palmar, toppling apartment buildings and damaging schools, churches, hospitals and homes from the Pacific port Buenaventura to Colombia's coffee-growing region and major western cities.



At least 294 people have died with 320 more missing and nearly 4,000 more injured, Colombia's disaster management unit estimated on Saturday. Over two-thirds of the deaths were concentrated in the cities of Cali and Pereira.



"We have only one site where there are signs of life," Cali fire captain Alberto Hernandez told Reuters. "At the other locations, we are unfortunately in the phase of recovering bodies."