Colombia: De la Espriella calls the situation in Pereira "apocalyptic" after touring the city

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella characterized the aftermath of the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Pereira, the capital of Risaralda department, as "apocalyptic." During a visit to the city, the president expressed deep concern over the devastating impact on the local population. Pereira has recorded 94 deaths, 259 injuries, and 260 people missing, with an estimated 140,000 individuals affected by the disaster, according to the department's estimates.

This number diverges from the National Disaster Risk Management Unit's figures, which indicate that the entire country has been impacted by the earthquake, with 102,262 individuals affected across 448 municipalities in fifteen departments. The latest assessment, as of 4:30 PM on Friday, details 288 fatalities, 4,018 injuries, and 202 missing persons, with 354 individuals rescued.

The death toll has decreased from the initial 379 reported, likely due to progress in identifying bodies and reuniting families. Of the deceased, 250 bodies have been sent to forensic services, with 227 identified and 189 returned to their families. Infrastructure damage assessments are ongoing and have fluctuated; home damages have risen from 73,455 to 80,744, destroyed homes increased to 12,504, while collapsed buildings were revised down from 121 to 66.

The epicenter of the earthquake was near San José del Palmar in Chocó department, a region known for its high poverty rates. President Espriella emphasized that the situation in Pereira and the affected department demands special attention. He noted that 90 tonnes of humanitarian aid had been delivered to Pereira through the First Lady's office and announced that the department's reconstruction needs would be part of the economic emergency measure he plans to present the following week.