Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 319; Thousands Displaced and Infrastructure Damaged

Colombian authorities have updated the death toll from the powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the country on August 10th, reporting 319 fatalities. The disaster continues to have a devastating impact, with 260 people still missing and the number of injured rising to 4,506. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) confirmed these figures in a recent bulletin.

The earthquake's reach is extensive, affecting 153,336 families, which amounts to 282,709 individuals across 476 municipalities in 15 of Colombia's 32 departments. The scale of destruction to housing is immense, with 31,461 homes completely destroyed and an additional 163,492 sustaining damage. The structural integrity of buildings has been severely compromised, leading to the collapse of 302 buildings, particularly in Cali and Pereira, the two most heavily impacted urban centers.

Beyond residential areas, critical infrastructure has also suffered significant damage. Reports indicate that 347 health centers, 3,483 educational facilities, and 4,496 community centers have been affected. Transportation networks have been disrupted, with damage to 449 roads and 58 vehicular bridges, alongside 14 pedestrian bridges. Essential services have also been impacted, with damage reported to 112 aqueducts. The earthquake's epicenter was located in San José del Palmar, in the Chocó region on Colombia's Pacific coast, and also affected the departments of Caldas, Quindío, and Chocó. This seismic event is noted as the strongest to hit Colombia in the last 25 years.