As aid efforts expand, search teams are combing the rubble of Colombia almost a week after the quake.

On 'Sunday', search teams combed through the rubble left by collapsed buildings in western Colombia, nearly a fortnight after a powerful earthquake ravaged cities and towns throughout the west of the country, killing hundreds, and leaving many others missing, injured, or homeless.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck San Jose del Palmar on Monday morning, causing extensive damage to the coffee-growing region of Colombia and other major cities in western Colombia including Cali and Pereira. The official estimates released on Sunday placed the death toll around 290. More than 140 people are still missing, and there were 4,200 injuries. Over two-thirds (or 290) of the deaths occurred in Cali and Pereira where homes, apartment blocks, churches, schools, and hospitals were destroyed or damaged.

On Sunday, in Cali, Colombia’s third largest city, emergency workers searched for unstable piles made of concrete and twisted metal as the search for bodies took precedence over rescue efforts. Captain Alberto Hernandez, of the Cali Fire Department, said: "Unfortunately there are no signs that anyone is still alive." "I believe in miracles, but based on the evidence we've seen there are no signs that anyone is alive."

The dangers of aftershocks are increasing for both crews and residents who have yet to return to their homes. Hernandez said that the work must be done carefully and methodically to avoid putting rescuers or those helping on site in further danger.

As the hope of finding survivors dwindled, the relief effort expanded.

In Bogota a stadium was turned into the largest donation collection center in the country, while authorities in Pereira treated injured pets and distributed donated animal food.

Claudia Galeano (53), who lost her Pereira home, said: "It's horrendous, it's overwhelming." Arnulfo Galaeano was rescued alive from the rubble, but died later in hospital.

"The earthquake has taken my father away from me but there are worse people than me who have been left on the streets, without family and without anything."

Abelardo De La Espriella is facing his first major crisis. He took office just days before the disaster, and now has to oversee relief and reconstruction. De La Espriella announced on Sunday that Colombian banker Jaime Gilinski who controls Nutresa, a food company, will donate 150 billion pesos (47.75 millions dollars) to rebuild schools and hospitals in Gilinski’s hometown Cali. The Santo Domingo Family, who control a vast media empire in the country, pledged $32 millions on Friday.

(source: Reuters)