Colombia president vows reconstruction fund as search for quake survivors enters critical period
Around 3,770 people were injured and more than 9,550 homes were destroyed in the quake.
Colombia's President Abelardo De La Espriella has pledged to establish an emergency fund to aid in the reconstruction efforts following the devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck the country on Monday. The quake claimed 265 lives and left nearly 500 people missing, with thousands more injured and over 9,500 homes destroyed.
In a national address, De La Espriella emphasized the focus on finding the missing individuals, as rescue workers raced against time within a critical 72-hour window to locate potential survivors. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder warned that rescue efforts in the city were becoming increasingly challenging due to the limited time frame.
Officials estimate that the earthquake injured 3,770 people and destroyed more than 9,550 homes, with Pereira and Cali reporting the highest number of fatalities - 83 and 74 respectively. Rescue efforts in Cali were primarily concentrated around seven buildings that may still contain survivors. The head of Colombia's coffee federation, German Bahamon, reported that ports in Buenaventura have temporarily halted operations while inspectors assess the impact of landslides on key roads.
Despite this, exports continue as usual through Caribbean ports. The earthquake has posed a significant challenge for the new Colombian president, as he navigates the first major test of his administration.
Written by urgent.news from Channel News Asia's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
