{
  "id": 633680,
  "title": "Earthquake response strains Colombia's new government and rescuers",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/earthquake-response-strains-colombias-new-government-and-rescuers",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-12T05:13:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "NPR",
    "slug": "npr",
    "url": "https://www.npr.org/2026/08/12/g-s1-138315/colombia-earthquake-updates"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. According to Colombian authorities, at least 181 people were killed and 2,595 injured. However, civilian-run databases suggest that the number of missing persons could be as high as 4,000, while other reports put the number of missing at 3,900.\n\nThe earthquake damaged around 1,600 buildings and nearly 5,000 homes across the affected region. Rescue operations continued, with teams searching for survivors in collapsed buildings and rubble. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella declared an economic emergency, granting him temporary authority to issue economic and tax decrees without congressional approval.\n\nThe Colombian government requested international aid in the form of supplies for those affected but did not call for foreign rescue teams, despite offers from several countries and multilateral bodies. The earthquake posed an early test for President de la Espriella, who began his four-year term on Friday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times - World News",
        "title": "Visuals surface as 7.4 magnitude earthquake shatters Colombia: Buildings in ruins, people under rubble",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/visuals-surface-as-7-4-magnitude-earthquake-shatters-colombia",
        "published": "2026-08-11T04:05:08.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ajel English",
        "title": "Colombia earthquake kills 132, widespread destruction reported",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/colombia-earthquake-kills-132-widespread-destruction-reported",
        "published": "2026-08-11T07:42:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Le Monde English",
        "title": "Colombia searches for survivors after powerful earthquake",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/colombia-searches-for-survivors-after-powerful-earthquake",
        "published": "2026-08-11T08:18:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Colombia searches for over 3,000 missing after powerful earthquake kills more than 100",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/colombia-searches-for-over-3-000-missing-after-powerful-earthquake",
        "published": "2026-08-11T14:37:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "PBS NewsHour",
        "title": "Colombia searches for over 3,000 missing after powerful earthquake kills at least 179",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/colombia-searches-for-over-3-000-missing-after-powerful-earthquake-593263",
        "published": "2026-08-11T17:39:14.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "BBC News",
        "title": "Rescuers scramble for survivors with 180 dead in Colombia earthquake",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/rescuers-scramble-for-survivors-with-180-dead-in-colombia-earthquake",
        "published": "2026-08-11T19:09:52.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Search for survivors underway in Colombia’s earthquake aftermath",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/11/search-for-survivors-underway-in-colombias-earthquake-aftermath",
        "published": "2026-08-11T20:06:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "RTE News",
        "title": "Colombia rescuers find woman alive after earthquake",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/colombia-rescuers-find-woman-alive-after-earthquake",
        "published": "2026-08-12T05:54:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "Colombia: Rescuers search for survivors after 7.6 magnitude earthquake kills 216 people",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/12/colombia-rescuers-search-for-survivors-after-7-6-magnitude-earthquake",
        "published": "2026-08-12T05:58:55.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "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."
}