Colombian President Visits Quake-Hit Pereira Amidst Aftermath

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella traveled to Pereira, the capital of the Risaralda region, to personally oversee the emergency response following a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake. The quake, which struck the previous day, has left a significant toll across the country.

"Heading to the Coffee Region to lead the emergency and unite efforts in response to the damage left by yesterday's earthquake," the president announced via his X account. He arrived in Pereira accompanied by his wife, Ana Lucía Pineda, and immediately met with Mayor Mauricio Salazar. The mayor provided a detailed report on the damage in affected areas and informed the president about the arrival of rescue teams.

During their discussion, President de la Espriella inquired about the city's most pressing needs. The earthquake has claimed at least 240 lives nationwide, with Risaralda and its capital bearing a heavy burden of 90 deaths. Before arriving in Pereira, the president had visited Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca, another severely affected department where preliminary figures indicate at least 130 fatalities, as regional authorities provided updates while awaiting official government figures.

Earlier, President de la Espriella had been in Quibdó, the capital of the Chocó department, near San José del Palmar, the earthquake's epicenter. The tremor occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time (12:34 GMT). The president had previously established a command post in Bogotá to manage the national emergency response.