• Doctors brace for possible epidemics
• Heavy troop presence doesn't stop looting
• Survivors vent anger at government
• OAS begins to distribute aid
• Related stories

January 30, 1999
Web posted at: 10:50 p.m. EST (0350 GMT)

ARMENIA, Colombia (CNN) -- Thousands who lost their homes in Monday's earthquake fled the city of Armenia Saturday in buses, pickup trucks and even horse-drawn carriages to escape disorder and the threat of disease.

An aftershock of magnitude 4.3 struck the region Saturday morning, causing alarm but no further damage.

Venezuelan rescue teams told CNN that searchers are still digging through mounds of rubble, hoping to find survivors from the quake that killed at least 940 people and injured thousands more.

With family photos in hand, many people anxiously watched rescuers, hoping to find a relative or a friend still alive.

Rolin Waver, Red Cross worker in Bogota, said the more time that passes, the less hope there is of finding survivors. Experts say it is possible for people to survive under the rubble for up to 10 days, but nobody has been pulled alive from the gutted buildings since Wednesday.

Doctors brace for possible epidemics

Because of a lack of running water and toilets, and the stench of trapped decaying bodies, public health is becoming a serious concern. Doctors reported small outbreaks of diarrhea, gastroenteritis and breathing problems.

In the town of Pijao, local officials informed the community about the health risks and offered inoculations.

Heavy troop presence doesn't stop looting

Despite the presence of nearly 6,000 police and soldiers, looters sacked several more Armenia markets on Saturday, taking furniture, mirrors, fans, mattresses, stoves, computers and other goods. Police arrested 37 people.

At a few stores, police were so outnumbered they were unable to stop the looting. Instead, they tried to prevent a repeat of Friday's violent clashes between angry looters and police.

Armenia residents left homeless by the quake created tent cities on curbs, sidewalks and empty lots. They huddled under flimsy sheets of plastic and tin. At night, men took turns guarding against thieves.

Survivors vent anger at government

Many survivors are frustrated with the government's relief efforts.

"The presence of the government around here has been practically negligible," said survivor Riverto Gomez. "I don't know if they have even appeared around here to assess the situation. In reality, we have received absolutely nothing from them."

The government said it had sent 362 tons of relief supplies to the quake zone, in Colombia's western coffee-growing region, while the U.N. World Food Program said it was distributing 200 tons of supplies.

Foreign Minister Guillermo Fernandez de Soto said Friday night that the government was receiving undue criticism and that its relief efforts have been admirable given the magnitude of the disaster.

"No country in the world is ready to feed 200,000 people. The aid is arriving," he said.

On Friday, after an emergency Cabinet meeting, President Andres Pastrana's government announced an additional $315 million in quake relief. The government also declared a 30-day "economic emergency" -- essentially giving Pastrana increased powers to better direct the relief effort. On Saturday, the president announced new measures to step up relief efforts.

OAS begins to distribute aid

Frustrated by the government food distribution effort, a woman from a nearby town donates what she can

Cesar Gaviria, the secretary-general of the Organization of American States, is in Armenia overseeing aid distribution. He said the OAS is trying to mobilize other governments in the Americas to gather financial resources to help Colombia.

"We are still at a phase of seeing what the needs are of the region, and we hope to mobilize additional resources during this year to cooperate in not only the humanitarian aspect but also in the phase of reconstruction of Armenia and of the other towns that have been affected by the earthquake," he said.

The Inter-American Development Bank formed a committee to assess Colombia's quake damage and needs, and Britain announced $1.6 million in aid. Canada assigned more than $530,000 to quake relief and $66,000 for medical aid.

Correspondent Harris Whitbeck and Reuters contributed to this report.