The entire building collapsed on top of the slaughterhouse in hard-hit Pereira. Under the rubble lies rotting meat, a health risk that worsens every hour as bacteria from the meat can spread.
"Since the earthquake, they have tried to remove the meat to avoid contamination, but it has been impossible as three floors collapsed," Ana, who lives in the area, told EFE.
According to local authorities, around 240 people have died in the earthquake, which had a magnitude of 7.4. More than 600 have been injured.
According to Ana, firefighters have warned of the health risks of meat rotting in the 35-degree heat, but they must focus on digging the injured and dead out from under the rubble. If the meat cannot be removed, they must leave the city.
We need help with this because it already smells like rotten meat, says Ana.
Many are trapped under the rubble, which is being searched by soldiers, rescue workers and relatives in several parts of western Colombia.
A 32-year-old woman was rescued on Wednesday night after being trapped under the rubble for 36 hours. Earlier in the day, an infant had also been rescued, El Tiempo reports.
For others, the search for loved ones has become a wake-up call. Around 1,600 buildings were reported damaged or collapsed, and thousands of people are still missing.
"My aunt lived here. She is under the rubble. I came here yesterday and I will stay here until they find her body," Jorge Gonzales told AFP.
