Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Climbs to 314

Ten days after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia, the death toll has risen to 314, according to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD). The powerful tremor, which occurred on August 10, has also left 262 people missing and injured 4,437.

The disaster has had a widespread impact, affecting 147,464 families, totaling 262,154 individuals across 471 municipalities in 15 of Colombia's 32 departments. The UNGRD's official report details significant destruction of housing, with 30,664 homes destroyed and an additional 136,946 homes sustaining material damage.

Infrastructure has also been severely affected. The report indicates that 302 buildings collapsed entirely, with major losses concentrated in Cali and Pereira. Critical public facilities, including 352 health centers, 3,470 educational institutions, and 4,971 community centers, suffered damage. Essential services were also disrupted, with 105 water systems reporting failures.

The earthquake's impact extended to the transportation network, with damage reported on 449 roads, 58 bridges, 13 pedestrian crossings, and five airport terminals. This seismic event, described as the most intense in Colombia in a quarter-century, caused widespread devastation, particularly in the departments of Caldas, Quindío, and Chocó, with its epicenter located in San José del Palmar in the Colombian Pacific region.