Colombia to declare economic emergency as quake toll tops 180
An emergency order would give the country's new president temporary authority to issue economic and tax decrees without the need for congressional approval.
Rescue workers in downtown Pereira, Colombia, are urgently calling for a state of economic emergency as the death toll from a catastrophic earthquake surpasses 180 lives lost. Amidst the debris-strewn streets of the city's historic center, volunteers have adopted a somber ritual of pausing their frantic efforts to listen for any signs of life under the rubble.
Families who had sought refuge in the plaza during Monday's devastating quake now sit in respectful silence, their whispers replaced by anxious murmurs as they await any positive news. The magnitude 7.4 earthquake, which struck the coffee-growing region in western Colombia, has left much of Pereira in ruins, with the rescue operations ongoing and the search for survivors a persistent, heart-wrenching task.
As the grim tally of casualties continues to climb, the city and its inhabitants face an unprecedented challenge, with the economic emergency declaration signaling the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for support and assistance to aid in the recovery process.
Written by urgent.news from Japan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
