Colombia earthquake: 224 dead, 3,000+ missing, 1,600 buildings damaged; US and EU send aid — latest updates
Rescue workers, soldiers, volunteers and families continued digging through concrete rubble using cranes, excavators and their bare hands.
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, 2020, resulting in at least 224 deaths and over 3,000 people still listed as missing. The quake caused significant damage to over 1,600 buildings and nearly 5,000 homes in the region, particularly in Choco, near the epicenter of the disaster. Rescue efforts have been ongoing for two days, with search-and-rescue teams, soldiers, volunteers, and families using various tools to clear the rubble and look for survivors trapped beneath the debris.
Over 6 airports, including Quibdo, Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura, were closed due to damage. Pereira, in particular, suffered extensive damage, with residential areas reduced to concrete slabs. Pereira's hospital was among the structures affected, forcing medical personnel to treat patients outside amid the rubble.
The earthquake has tested President Abelardo de la Espriella's administration, who has declared a state of disaster to facilitate relief, rehabilitation, and reconstruction efforts. The US has provided $15.5 million in aid, while the Inter-American Development Bank and the European Union have pledged assistance as well. Airports and roads remain disrupted, making it challenging for rescue teams to reach remote communities in the impoverished region.
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