Will Colombia declare an end to search-and-rescue operations in Cali before Aug 21?

Colombian authorities did not issue a formal declaration ending search-and-rescue operations in Cali before August 21, 2026. A magnitude 7.4-7.5 earthquake struck Colombia's Choco department on August 10, 2026, killing more than 300 people and leaving over 260 reported missing, with Cali among the hardest-hit cities due to building collapses. Search teams, including U.S. and Spanish delegations and Mexican rescue specialists, entered what officials described as a final phase of search operations around August 13, concentrating on roughly 56 severely damaged buildings. By August 17, coverage described crews shifting focus toward clearing rubble and recovering remaining bodies as the broader disaster response moved toward housing and recovery efforts. That shift in operational focus was reported as a transition rather than as an official announcement that search-and-rescue work had concluded, and the large number of people still unaccounted for meant authorities stopped short of declaring the effort over. Community sentiment leaned toward yes on this question, with 67% of three voters expecting a formal end declaration, but that did not occur, putting the majority vote at odds with the actual outcome.