A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people and injuring hundreds. Rescue teams and volunteers worked throughout the night in a race against time to locate survivors.

One of the cities rattled by the quake was Cali, southwest of Bogotá, where Meir Partush runs “Bayit Yehudi,” which provides a range of services for the local Jewish kehilla.

Partush told B’Chadrei Chareidim that the Jewish kehilla suffered extensive damage. “In our kehilla, there are families who, Hashem Yeracheim, lost their homes. Baruch Hashem, there were no injuries or loss of life, but there is tremendous property damage. The kehilla itself was also damaged. A wall collapsed onto the roof of the shul and caused damage, and ceilings came down in some of the rooms.”

Throughout the night, the Bayit Yehudi staff treated numerous Jews, some of whom had been left homeless. “It’s not easy,” Partush said. “Homes collapsed and there is immense damage. The people here are not wealthy. The kehilla is not a rich, well-established community, so we rely on donations and help from Jews abroad. ”

Partush said that one of the first things he did Tuesday morning was contact hostels where Israelis and other travelers were staying to make sure they were safe.

“I also called the Israelis themselves to make sure no one had been hurt,” he said. “As of this moment, we have no information about any Jew who was injured or killed, chas v’shalom. We have suffered tremendous property damage throughout the city, but it seems that is the extent of it.”

“What’s happening right now is that non-Jews are also approaching us, asking for assistance, whether it’s with food, or water, or help repairing their homes,” he said. “We provide help to anyone who approaches us.”

Partush explained that Bayit Yehudi serves as an address for any Jew who comes to Cali. “We have a shul here, and we provide kosher food. If, chas v’shalom, something happens to an Israeli traveler or a Jew who needs help, we accompany him to the hospital or police station if necessary. The concept is similar to Chabad’s activities, but we established Bayit Yehudi to provide these services because there is no Chabad House here. We operate the center with donations.

“We also have a local kehilla with three tefillos a day, shiurim and educational activities for the children in the city.”

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)