PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) \u2014 As crews in Colombia search for several thousand people unaccounted for in the wake of Monday\u2019s devastating earthquake, the Colombian community in Philadelphia banded together in support.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
There were about 50 people outside City Hall on Wednesday evening. Many waved flags, said prayers, and offered words of encouragement for Western Colombia.<\/p>\n
Monday\u2019s 7.4-magnitude earthquake<\/a> killed at least 265 people, according to Colombian officials, and left several thousand more unaccounted for. More than 200 are believed to be trapped under rubble in the hard-hit city of Cali.<\/p>\n Lina-Maria Garcia has family back in Colombia, whom she was able to contact. \u201cEveryone is physically okay, thankfully \u2014 scared, and I think the carryover from the fear trickled throughout the day, and then just the sadness of everything going on,\u201d she said. <\/p>\n \u201cBut they\u2019re physically okay, so thank God for that.\u201d<\/p>\n Joana Plazas, who serves on the board of Acci\u00f3n Colombia, helped organize the vigil. She said the show of solidarity was meant in part to help support those whose loved ones live in more remote areas.<\/p>\n \u201cUnderstandably for members of those communities and those areas in this region, it\u2019s just a little bit harder for them, because they haven\u2019t been able to connect with loved ones,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Acci\u00f3n Colombia\u2019s social media accounts<\/a> have organizations who are accepting monetary and physical donations, as well as more information on how to help.<\/p>\n