THIS is the horror moment cable car riders were left screaming as they dangled mid-air during Colombia’s devastating earthquake.

Tense footage shows terrified passengers gripping onto their seats as the car violently swings from side to side.

A woman with a backpack appearing distressed inside a swinging cable car.Cable car riders gripped onto their seats as they were left hanging mid-air during Columbia’s earthquake Credit: X A young boy in a cable car, holding his red backpack to his mouth, seemingly distressed or crying, with another person visible to his left, during an earthquake.The trapped group looked terrified as the car violently swung from side to side Credit: X

Women can be heard screaming and shouting for their lives as the trapped group look at one another in panic.

The horrifying incident in Western Colombia occurred as the country was on Monday.

after 254 were killed and nearly 2,600 injured in the disaster, according to local authorities.

The search for life amongst the rubble grew more desperate on Wednesday as time ticked away for victims to be found and rescued alive.

Aftermath of an earthquake, in CaliThe search for life amongst the rubble grew more desperate on Wednesday Credit: Reuters Illustration of a map showing the epicenter of a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia.

Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours crucial for retrieving survivors.

Striking at a depth of 64 miles in Chocó province, the quake was felt for hundreds of miles across western .

Shocking footage shows the moment Colombian news anchor Lina Pulido was live on air when the earthquake struck.

Broadcasting from a local news studio in Bogotá, Pulido remained calm and informed the audience of evacuation protocols as TV screens swung around her.

NINTCHDBPICT001100586042Colombian news anchor Lina Pulido was broadcasting live when the earthquake struck Credit: Canal Citytv/CEN NINTCHDBPICT001100586055Pulido and her colleague remained calm and informed viewers of emergency protocols Credit: Canal Citytv/CEN

Shockwaves stretched as far as Venezuela’s capital, Caracas, 750 miles away, and in and .

Teams continued to pick through the piles of broken concrete, brick and debris in the hardest-hit cities of Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo.

More than 3,800 people were reported missing by Monday, as families frantically posted information about loved ones online.

Three people died at the Pereira airport terminal, according to the mayor, as rescuers pulled passengers trapped on the city’s 11,000ft-long gondola lift.

Colombia EarthquakeResidentes weep as rescue workers search through the rubble of their damaged home Credit: AP : Aftermath of an earthquake, in CaliA man sits near debris at the Torres de Limonar building in Cali Credit: Reuters

In ​Cali, Colombia’s third biggest city and home to about 2.2 million people, at least 95 people were killed.

One of the first deaths confirmed in Quibdó was Jairson Leonel Valencia, the six-year-old son of a local mayor, The Times reports.

In a grim admission, public health secretary German Escobar said the city’s morgue was now full and authorities were bringing more bodies off the streets.

Official government figures have confirmed 180 deaths – with the toll remaining lower as searches continue.

Small successes have broken through, with rescuers pulling a dust-covered baby through a crack in a concrete wall.

But in many areas the official response has been complicated by deep poverty and civil warfare that has blighted the country for decades.

Colombia’s president Abelardo de la Espriella said 1,000 members of the security forces have been deployed to Cali following reports of looting.

The natural disaster is proving to be an early test for the president who was only inaugurated on Friday.

Aftermath of an earthquake, in CaliA rescuer worker prays amid his search for survivors in Cali Credit: Reuters 7.4-magnitude earthquake causes widespread destruction in western ColombiaA crushed vehicle covered by debris after the 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked Colombia Credit: EPA

On Tuesday, he flew to Pereira, accompanied by his wife, the first lady Ana Lucía Pineda, to inspect one of the worst-hit areas.

President de la Espriella said he had mobilised the entire military as well as to respond to the quake – deploying engineers, rescue workers and search dogs.

The US Department of State described the disaster as “devastating” and pledged £11.5million to help provide emergency shelter and supplies.

The EU is also providing funding and supporting rescue operations, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said.

And on Tuesday Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said his country would send two planes loaded with 100 tons of aid in the coming days.