Colombia earthquake kills at least 319 people

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department of Colombia has resulted in at least 319 deaths and left 260 people missing. The disaster has affected over 272,000 people across 476 municipalities and 15 departments, causing widespread destruction to infrastructure, including the collapse of 302 buildings and damage to approximately 151,000 homes.

In response to the catastrophe, the Colombian government has declared an Economic Emergency to facilitate reconstruction and the recovery of essential services. Authorities are prioritizing the search for missing persons and providing aid to families whose homes were destroyed.

International humanitarian assistance is underway, with Brazil deploying a KC-390 cargo aircraft from the Brazilian Air Force to deliver 19 tons of rice to Colombia. The shipment, sourced from public stocks, aims to support emergency response efforts following the seismic event that impacted cities ranging from Buenaventura to Cali and Manizales.