Colombia Earthquake: 132 Dead, 570 Injured; 188 Missing as National Disaster Declared

Colombia is grappling with the aftermath of a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck on August 10, with its epicenter in the Chocó department. The tremor, recorded at a depth of 96 kilometers, has left a trail of destruction, claiming at least 132 lives and injuring over 570 people, according to the Association of Colombian Capital Cities.

President Abelardo De La Espriella has declared a national disaster to mobilize resources for the emergency. In Cali, the president, alongside local officials, reported significant damage, including approximately 5,000 damaged or collapsed homes. The city also recorded 35 fatalities and around 700 injuries. Critical infrastructure, such as three hospitals that have collapsed and 18 others affected, along with 39 damaged educational centers, underscores the scale of the devastation. The local airport is also experiencing restricted operations due to damage.

The government's immediate focus is on locating 188 individuals reported missing. "What worries us most, without a doubt, are the 188 missing people, and it is on this point in particular that we will concentrate the State's action," President De La Espriella stated. The commander of the Army, General Royer Gómez Herrera, is in Chocó coordinating the emergency response with regional authorities and risk management agencies. Rescue and relief efforts are ongoing in the most affected areas.

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What worries us most, without a doubt, are the 188 missing people, and it is on this point in particular that we will concentrate the State's action, all articulated with the departmental government, the municipal government, and, of course, the national government.