Colombia implements emergency measures following major earthquake

Following a major earthquake in western Colombia that has resulted in 331 deaths, 4,449 injuries, and 219 people missing, the Colombian government has initiated emergency measures to protect citizens.

President Abelardo de la Espriella announced administrative controls to prevent price gouging on essential goods. The Superintendency of Industry and Commerce (SIC) is monitoring markets to sanction hoarding, speculation, and deceptive advertising. Additionally, telecommunications companies are prohibited from charging for services or connectivity that were interrupted during the seismic event.

In response to the lack of a coordinated state warning system, Senator María Lucía Villalba has introduced a bill in Congress to create the National Early Seismic Alert System (SNAST). The proposal aims to implement a unified, free alert mechanism using Cell Broadcast technology, similar to systems in Japan and Mexico, to provide critical seconds for evacuation and safety measures across all mobile networks.