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Extensive Damage Across Western Colombia
The death toll from the powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10 has risen to 234, with 2,595 people injured, according to the latest update from President Abelardo de la Espriella . Search efforts continue for 195 people who remain missing and are believed to be trapped under the rubble of collapsed buildings .
The earthquake, which struck at 7:34 AM local time, was one of the strongest to hit the country in a decade . Its epicenter was located near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department, at a depth of approximately 96 kilometers .
The devastation has been widespread, with the cities of Pereira, Cali, Manizales, and Quibdó among the hardest hit .
Infrastructure in Ruins
The earthquake has caused catastrophic damage to homes and critical infrastructure across the region.
Buildings and Homes
- 1,136 houses have been completely destroyed
- 48 buildings have collapsed
- 8,357 houses have been damaged
Essential Facilities
- 807 educational facilities have been affected
- 85 health facilities have sustained damage, with Cali’s University Hospital among those partially collapsed
- 76 roads have been damaged
- 377 community centres have been affected
- 16 water supply systems have been damaged
- One airport runway has been affected
Emergency Response and International Aid
President de la Espriella, who was inaugurated just days before the quake, declared a national disaster and mobilized “the entire military and police apparatus” to respond to the crisis . The United States has offered over $15 million in aid, while Mexico, El Salvador, and other nations have also pledged support .
Aid agencies consider the first 48 to 72 hours crucial for retrieving survivors, though this threshold can be extended if victims have access to food and water .
