{
  "id": 612026,
  "title": "Colombia to declare economic emergency as quake toll tops 180",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/colombia-to-declare-economic-emergency-as-quake-toll-tops-180",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-11T22:15:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Japan Times",
    "slug": "japan-times",
    "url": "https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2026/08/12/world/colombia-economic-emergency-quake-deaths/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "An emergency order would give the country's new president temporary authority to issue economic and tax decrees without the need for congressional approval.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}