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Colombia earthquake causes widespread devastation and mass casualties FAST-MOVING
A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, with its epicenter located in San José del Palmar, Chocó. The disaster has caused widespread devastation across several departments, including Chocó, Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, and Caldas.
Death tolls and casualty reports vary among regional and national authorities. While President Abelardo De La Espriella has cited at least 181 deaths, consolidated regional figures suggest the toll has reached at least 250 people. Thousands remain missing, with some databases indicating up to 3,800 people may be unaccounted for. Over 1,600 buildings have been reported damaged or collapsed, and critical infrastructure, including hospitals, schools, and airports, has sustained severe damage. The Matecaña International Airport in Pereira remains closed to commercial flights.
President De La Espriella has declared a national emergency and mobilized the military and police to assist in search and rescue operations. He also announced a three-month economic relief program for residents and businesses in Risaralda. International aid is being mobilized, including a $15.5 million assistance package from the United States and satellite support from the European Union. Local efforts, such as food aid from the Bogotá Food Bank, are also underway to support the thousands of affected families.
Entities
Abelardo De La Espriella · Aerocivil · Aeronáutica Civil · Cali · Chocó · Claudia Sheinbaum · Colombia · Donald Trump · El Salvador · Elsa Noguera · Inter-American Development Bank · LATAM
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] More than 600 people were injured in the earthquake. www.topky.sk
- [● 8 SOURCES] The EU activated its consular assistance mechanism for affected EU citizens. www.topky.sk
- [● 8 SOURCES] The EU has mobilized its Copernicus satellite service to support rescue operations. www.topky.sk
- [● 7 SOURCES] The European Commission is cooperating with the German Red Cross on the ground. www.topky.sk
- [● 8 SOURCES] The European Union allocated 100,000 euros in initial emergency aid to Colombia. www.topky.sk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The earthquake resulted in at least 224 deaths. www.topky.sk
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The earthquake caused 165 buildings to collapse. www.topky.sk
- [● 3 SOURCES] The United States has pledged 15.5 million dollars in support. www.topky.sk
- [● 4 SOURCES] The airports in Cali, Quibdó, and Armenia have resumed operations. somosfan.com
- [○ 1 SOURCE] LATAM set fare caps for flights to Cali, Armenia, and Pereira.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] There are over 2.2 million insured properties in Colombia against earthquakes.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] LATAM cancelled 49 flights affecting approximately 7,657 passengers.