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Colombia Earthquake Leaves Deaths and Collapsed Buildings in Its Wake
🇩🇴 Dominican Republic /Disasters & Emergencies

Colombia Earthquake Leaves Deaths and Collapsed Buildings in Its Wake

From Diario Libre · () Spanish

Translated from Spanish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Ongoing story
  • A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia, causing widespread destruction, including collapsed buildings and damaged homes.
  • The disaster has resulted in at least 132 deaths, 570 injuries, and over 1,575 damaged or destroyed homes.
  • Spanish authorities are working to locate 164 Spanish citizens missing in the aftermath of the earthquake.

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake has devastated parts of Colombia, leaving a trail of destruction, fatalities, and a significant number of missing persons. The latest official reports indicate at least 132 people have died, with 570 injured and over 1,575 homes damaged, including 37 that were completely destroyed. Sixty-one buildings have also collapsed under the seismic force.

In the city of Cali, which was heavily impacted, authorities have imposed a curfew and militarized the area to ensure the safety of emergency response teams and facilitate rescue operations. Mayor Alejandro Eder explained the measures aim to allow emergency services to focus on searching for individuals potentially trapped in the rubble. The president of Colombia reported 35 deaths, 188 disappearances, and 700 injuries specifically in Cali, along with the collapse of three hospitals and 39 educational centers.

The measure seeks to guarantee the mobility and security of emergency teams and allow rescue organizations to concentrate their efforts on searching for people who may be trapped in the rubble.

— Alejandro EderThe mayor of Cali explaining the reasons for imposing a curfew and militarizing the city after the earthquake.

Amidst the crisis, international aid is beginning to arrive, with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) and the World Bank offering a combined $700,000 to assist Colombia in managing the aftermath. The Vice President highlighted that $350,000 of this aid is immediately accessible to the Red Cross, along with $150,000 in technical support.

Meanwhile, Spanish authorities are actively working to account for their citizens in Colombia. Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares stated that 164 Spaniards remain unaccounted for following the earthquake. While no Spanish nationals have been confirmed dead or injured, the Spanish Embassy and Consulate are mobilized to assist the Spanish community, urging those who are uncontactable to reach out to consular services.

There are 164 Spaniards unaccounted for after the earthquake in Colombia, but there are no confirmed deaths or injuries of Spanish origin.

— José Manuel AlbaresThe Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs providing an update on the status of Spanish citizens in Colombia.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Diario Libre in Spanish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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