Rescue teams are racing against time in western Colombia, digging through collapsed buildings in the wake of what officials are calling the country's most powerful earthquake in a century. The search for survivors is the immediate priority as the scale of destruction becomes clearer. Main Developments Countless structures have crumbled across the affected region, leaving rescuers to comb through rubble for signs of life. The quake's strength has overwhelmed local capacity, with emergency crews working under precarious conditions. Authorities have not yet released official casualty figures, but the widespread collapse of buildings suggests a significant human toll. Each hour that passes raises the stakes for those still trapped beneath debris. Read also: US Navy Strikes Panama-Flagged Ship in Gulf of Oman Blockade Background Colombia sits in a seismically active zone, yet this event stands apart for its magnitude. The designation as the strongest quake this century places it above all tremors recorded since the year 2000, marking a grim milestone for a nation that has dealt with periodic seismic activity. Why It Matters The disaster tests Colombia's emergency response infrastructure at a moment of crisis. Beyond the immediate rescue effort, the destruction of housing and public buildings will strain resources for months, potentially displacing thousands and requiring a major reconstruction campaign. What's Next Search operations will continue as long as there is hope of finding survivors beneath the wreckage. In the coming days, officials are expected to provide updated figures on injuries and deaths, while assessments of infrastructure damage will determine the scope of the recovery effort.