Colombia earthquake toll rises to 239 dead, over 3,700 injured

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, leaving a devastating toll of at least 239 people dead and 3,755 injured, as reported by the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (Ungrd). The seismic event, with its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó, a department in the country's impoverished Pacific region, has also left 287 people missing and impacted 24,324 families.

Nearly 48 hours after the earthquake, its effects have been felt across 403 municipalities in 14 of Colombia's 32 departments. While the entire nation experienced tremors, the most severe damage and highest casualty figures are concentrated in the central and southwestern regions. The departments of Chocó, Valle del Cauca, and Risaralda have reported significant devastation, with their capital cities, Cali and Pereira, bearing the brunt of the fatalities.

The Institute of Legal Medicine (IML) has received 202 bodies from the affected areas, identifying 121 for release to families. These victims hail from Chocó, Caldas, Risaralda, and Valle del Cauca. Among the identified are five minors. The Ungrd's data indicates that this earthquake, the strongest to hit Colombia this century, has led to the destruction of 9,215 homes and damage to 45,457 others. Additionally, 140 buildings have collapsed, and rescue teams are actively searching for survivors in the rubble.

The earthquake's impact extends beyond residential structures, affecting critical infrastructure. A total of 188 hospitals and health centers, 1,667 schools, and 43 aqueducts sustained damage. Two airports also suffered severe harm, further complicating relief and recovery efforts in the wake of this devastating natural disaster.