Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 288; Missing Persons Drop to 202

The devastating earthquake that struck Colombia earlier this week has resulted in a climbing death toll, now reaching 288 confirmed fatalities. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) reported a significant reduction in the number of missing persons, down to 202 from a previous count of 379. It remains unclear whether this decrease is due to successful rescues or the location of individuals who were previously unreachable.

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake, with its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó, on the Pacific coast, has caused widespread destruction. In addition to the fatalities, 4,018 people have been injured, and 354 individuals have been rescued from the rubble. As rescue efforts continue and authorities access more remote locations, the full scale of the tragedy is becoming increasingly apparent.

As of Friday, the number of people affected by the quake has surged to 145,601, comprising 57,516 families across 448 municipalities in 15 of Colombia's 32 departments. The UNGRD detailed extensive damage to housing, with 80,744 homes reported as damaged and 12,504 completely destroyed. Sixy-six buildings have collapsed, particularly in Cali and Pereira, the capitals of Valle del Cauca and Risaralda departments, respectively.

Infrastructure across the country has also suffered significant damage. Reports indicate that 2,595 educational centers, 260 health centers, 267 roads, 87 aqueducts, 55 bridges, and five airports have been impacted. The Matecaña Airport in Pereira, for example, is currently only operational for military and humanitarian flights. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella described the situation in Pereira as "apocalyptic" after visiting the city.