Live: Rescue efforts underway as Colombia earthquake death toll exceeds 265

Search and rescue operations in western Colombia entered what officials designated as their final phase on Wednesday, as emergency crews raced to locate survivors beneath collapsed structures ahead of the critical 72-hour threshold.

The 7.4-magnitude tremor — the most powerful to strike the country this century — has claimed at least 265 lives, injured upwards of 3,500 people and left nearly 500 others unaccounted for, local authorities reported.

In Cali, one of the hardest-hit major urban center, rescue teams utilizing acoustic sensors and canine units are pressing forward through the remaining hours of the vital window, working feverishly alongside international aid delegations to clear rubble and reach trapped residents. Stay tuned to CGTN for the latest updates.