The earthquake struck at San Jose del Palmar, toppling apartment buildings and damaging schools, churches, hospitals and homes from the Pacific port Buenaventura to Colombia's coffee-growing region and major western cities.
About 290 people have died, with 140 missing and almost 4000 more injured, Colombia's disaster management unit estimated late on Saturday.
More than two-thirds of the deaths were concentrated in the cities of Cali and Pereira.
"We have only one site where there are signs of life," Cali fire captain Alberto Hernandez told Reuters.
"At the other locations, we are unfortunately in the phase of recovering bodies."
Cali is Colombia's third-biggest city, with more than two million inhabitants.
Rescue workers continued through the morning to sift through mountains of shattered concrete, bricks and metal to find those who remained unaccounted for, while others were cleaning their neighbourhoods armed with brooms and shovels.
Hernandez said they would likely finish recovering bodies by Sunday, after which they would begin using heavy equipment to clear the debris.
"Even though the 72-hour mark has passed, we're going to keep working relentlessly and without rest, as if those 70 people (still missing) were still alive," Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder told a press conference.
"Miracles do happen."
Juana Catano, who co-ordinates a citizens' action group, told Reuters efforts were now focused on recovery and rebuilding.
"We are in a time of overwhelming mourning," she said.
Thousands of people gathered in the cities of Medellin and Bogota to donate food, clothing and medicine to donation centres for distribution to areas devastated by the quake.
In the city of Pereira, deep in Colombia's coffee-growing region, hundreds of people spent the night on mats or in tents at a makeshift shelter in a park, where co-ordinators said there was a lack of blankets, tents, hygiene products and food.
A report by the disaster management unit found thousands of homes were destroyed in Monday's quake, leaving hundreds sleeping outdoors in shelters and waiting to find out whether damaged apartments were at risk of collapsing.
Colombia has recorded 269 aftershocks since the quake, piling on dangers for rescue workers and volunteers still sifting through the unstable rubble.
The disaster became the first major challenge for President Abelardo De La Espriella, a political newcomer who took office a week ago and will now oversee relief efforts and reconstruction in the wake of one of Colombia's worst natural disasters.
De La Espriella has faced some criticism over his handling of the initial hours, particularly for not accepting offers of rescue teams from certain countries.
Authorities later received some response teams from Israel and the US.
The recent election victory of the right-wing president, who campaigned on a platform of tougher austerity and security measures, marks a rapprochement with Washington, which has floated joint strikes on armed groups operating in the country.
De La Espriella said on Saturday he spoke with President Donald Trump in a 10-minute phone call, during which Trump expressed his condolences, and he requested the US temporarily suspend tariffs on Colombian goods to help business owners.
The US Department of Commerce did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
"Today, more than ever, the alliance between Colombia and the United States is essential for the reconstruction of our beloved nation," De La Espriella said on X.
