Across Colombia, the earthquake has left 23,392 homes destroyed and 127,608 damaged, while 287 people have died and 4,147 have been injured, according to Sunday's update from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management. Survivors in Cali say rebuilding will be difficult and could take years, but they remain determined to start again.

The procedures were moved to Palmira after the Forensic Medicine office in Cali was evacuated because of the risk of structural collapse.

The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said 250 bodies have arrived at Forensic Medicine. Of those, 227 have been identified and 189 handed over to their families.

"It is overwhelmed; the forensic service in the city of Cali is overwhelmed because of the earthquake. So all the bodies have been sent here to Palmira, and that has meant it takes a long time to hand over our loved ones," said the son of a person who died in the earthquake.

The man said he had been waiting since early in the day to receive his relative’s remains.

"It is worrying, because we want to give a Christian burial, and with the pain being so strong here, you do not want your relative to be there in these conditions ."

He said he had been told the previous night that the body would be ready by Thursday morning, but he was still unable to receive it.

"Last night they told me—I was there until late last night—they told me that today at 09:00. I have just arrived to claim the body, but they say it is not on this first list of the morning, so I have to wait to see when they can hand it over to me."

Meanwhile, citizens have travelled to areas affected by the earthquake to deliver humanitarian aid.

"It comes from the heart, and all of us at this time have to unite as a country to help all these people who really have nowhere to sleep and no food," said one Cali resident taking part in the effort.

The Office of the Attorney General set up service points in Palmira and Tulua to speed up procedures after the Cali forensic office was evacuated.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake, with its epicentre in San Jose del Palmar, caused damage across Choco, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda and Caldas. As of Thursday, the UNGRD reported 273 people dead, 3,824 injured and 377 missing.