Rooma News: Earthquake Kills 250 in Colombia; Rescuers Race Against Time

 Wednesday, August 12, 2026

roomanews.pk

Islamabad · Est. 2026

Vol. I · No. 1

Islamabad, Pakistan

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Rooma News

By Rooma Mehmood · Islamabad

"Truth is the compass

that never misleads."

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World

Pakistan

Politics

Economy

Opinion

Science

Special Edition — August 12, 2026 — Navigating a World in Crisis.

Breaking · Colombia

Earthquake Kills 250 in Colombia; Rescuers Race Against Time

A magnitude 7.4–7.6 tremor has levelled buildings in Cali and Pereira as international rescue teams converge on the stricken region.

World Desk · Rooma News · Aug. 12, 2026

Acatastrophic earthquake has struck Colombia's densely populated western corridor, killing at least 250 people with the toll expected to rise as rescue teams dig through the rubble of collapsed apartment blocks and commercial buildings in Cali, Pereira, and the surrounding towns. The tremor, estimated between magnitude 7.4 and 7.6, struck in the early hours, trapping hundreds of residents in their homes.

Colombia's civil defence directorate declared a national emergency and activated mutual-aid agreements with neighbouring states within hours of the quake. Aid flights from the United States, Spain, and Panama have begun arriving at Cali's Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport, carrying heavy-lift cranes, sniffer-dog units, and field medical teams.

"Every hour we search is an hour someone may still be alive. We will not stop." — Colombia Civil Defence Director

Engineers warned that several multi-storey residential towers in Cali's south showed critical structural compromise after the main shock and two significant aftershocks measuring above 5.0. Authorities urged residents in adjacent districts to evacuate voluntarily while inspections continue.

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Rescue Operations · Cali, Colombia

Emergency crews work through the night at a collapsed residential block in southern Cali. International teams from the US, Spain, and Panama have joined the effort. [Photo: AFP / File]

At a Glance · Colombia Quake

Magnitude

7.4–7.6 · shallow depth (~15 km)

Deaths (confirmed)

250+ and rising

Epicentre

Near Cali, Pereira corridor

Aid arriving from

US, Spain, Panama, Red Cross

Pakistan response

PM Shehbaz conveys condolences; NDMA on standby

Ukraine · Russia War

Kyiv Struck Again as North Korean Missiles Reported in Russian Arsenal

Overnight attacks kill at least ten; a children's hospital narrowly escapes direct hit.

Ukrainian authorities reported a fresh wave of Russian strikes overnight that killed at least ten civilians and damaged critical infrastructure, including power substations near a children's hospital in Kyiv. Defence officials said some of the ballistic missiles used bore signatures consistent with North Korean-supplied munitions, the latest sign of deepening military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang.

President Zelensky called on Western partners to accelerate the delivery of long-range air-defence systems. NATO's secretary-general described the hospital proximity strike as "a deliberate act of terror."

Syria

Assad Sentenced to Death in Absentia for War Crimes

A Damascus court has handed former president Bashar al-Assad a death sentence in absentia, alongside several former security chiefs, on charges of war crimes, mass murder, torture, and crimes against humanity carried out during Syria's fourteen-year civil war.

The proceedings, held under the transitional authority that ousted Assad's government, are expected to be challenged internationally as questions of jurisdiction and fair-trial standards remain contested.

Public Health · DRC

DRC Ebola Outbreak Becomes Second-Largest on Record

Confirmed infections in the Democratic Republic of Congo's ongoing Ebola outbreak have surpassed 4,300, with at least 2,000 deaths recorded, making it the second-deadliest outbreak in the pathogen's history. Health officials noted that the rare strain involved began spreading earlier than previously estimated, complicating containment. Vaccine deployment options are under urgent review by the WHO.

Middle East

Strait of Hormuz Tensions Escalate; US, Iran Exchange Warnings

The Strait of Hormuz remains a flashpoint as Iran issues fresh warnings over energy infrastructure and the United States maintains naval pressure alongside allied blockade operations. Houthi forces in Yemen continued attacks on commercial shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb and Red Sea corridors. President Trump, addressing reporters, made pointed remarks on control of the strait and the broader security architecture in the Gulf.

Mixed signals on possible talks have emerged, with diplomatic back-channels reportedly active even as military posturing intensifies.

East Asia

North Korea Fires Another Ballistic Missile

North Korea conducted another ballistic-missile test, drawing immediate condemnation from South Korea, Japan, and the United States. The launch is the latest in a series that analysts say is intended to demonstrate range capabilities while Pyongyang deepens its arms cooperation with Moscow.

Pakistan Desk

Diplomacy

Islamabad Pushes for US-Iran Arrangement Over Hormuz

Interior Minister Naqvi holds talks in Tehran; Defence Minister hints sides are nearing a deal.

Pakistan has intensified its diplomatic effort to mediate between Washington and Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz crisis. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi visited Tehran, meeting President Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Araghchi while conveying personal messages from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and the country's military leadership. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif subsequently told reporters that both sides appear to be moving toward "some sort of arrangement," the clearest signal yet that back-channel negotiations have produced tangible movement.

The stakes for Pakistan are direct: three Pakistani nationals were among those killed in Houthi-linked attacks on commercial vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb. Islamabad condemned the attacks, stressed the principle of freedom of navigation, and said it is in active contact with relevant maritime authorities.

Economy

KSE-100 Falls Below 180,000; Inflation Risks Mount

The Pakistan Stock Exchange remained under pressure as the KSE-100 index fell approximately 1,463 points, slipping below the 180,000 level. The State Bank of Pakistan issued a note warning that higher global oil and fertiliser prices—driven by the Middle East conflict—risk feeding into domestic food inflation. Petroleum dealers issued an ultimatum to the government over pricing disputes, while a transporters' strike continued to cause supply-chain disruptions despite official claims of progress in negotiations.

Politics · Security

PTI Calls Off Supreme Court Protest; AJK Polls Show PML-N Gains

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters gathered outside the Supreme Court over Imran Khan's health and pending legal cases, but called off the demonstration after receiving assurances that hearings would be expedited. Separately, results from the third phase of Azad Jammu and Kashmir elections showed gains for the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz), though several results were withheld amid demands for a recount. Security forces meanwhile conducted anti-militant operations in Bannu and Panjgur, reporting terrorists neutralised.

Editorial · Rooma News

Navigating the Storm: Pakistan's Moment of Strategic Prudence

On August 12, 2026, the world reels from overlapping crises—devastating earthquakes, prolonged wars, a worsening public-health emergency in the DRC, and the ever-present risk of a wider Middle East conflagration. Pakistan finds itself both affected by and positioned within these turbulent currents.

The government's mediation efforts in Tehran deserve recognition. In a region where great-power rivalry and proxy warfare intersect at energy chokepoints, a credible intermediary that maintains working relations with multiple sides can reduce the risk of miscalculation. Yet mediation succeeds only when backed by consistent policy at home and realistic expectations abroad.

Domestically, political tensions, market volatility, and climate pressures compound the challenge. The path forward demands steady, interest-based foreign policy, fiscal discipline, and an institutional maturity that places long-term stability above short-term political advantage. In an era of earthquakes both literal and geopolitical, resilience is not optional — it is the only sustainable strategy.

World Briefs

Afghanistan

UNESCO reports 2.4 million girls remain barred from secondary school under Taliban rule, a figure unchanged for the third consecutive year.

Climate

The United Nations warned that extreme heat events are becoming both more frequent and more intense globally, calling for binding adaptation commitments.

West Bank

Pakistan warned the UN Security Council of a "tipping point," urging international pressure on Israel to halt settlement expansion.

Balochistan

A 4.8-magnitude tremor was felt in Zhob and Chaman districts. Flood alerts remain in effect across several regions due to monsoon rains.

Pakistan-US

A higher-education partnership between the two countries has been extended; a new minority rights commission was also announced.

Rooma News

By Rooma Mehmood · Islamabad, Pakistan · roomanews.pk

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