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Colombia earthquake kills at least 265 and triggers national emergency FAST-MOVING
A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake has struck western Colombia, with the epicenter located near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. The disaster has caused widespread devastation, leaving at least 265 people dead, 3,494 injured, and nearly 500 people missing. The impact is most severe in the departments of Chocó, Valle del Cauca, and Risaralda.
Infrastructure damage is extensive, with over 11,000 homes destroyed and hundreds of buildings, schools, and hospitals damaged or collapsed. In response, President Abelardo De la Espriella has declared a national economic and social emergency and established the ‘Fondo Milagro’ to manage reconstruction funds from state, private, and international sources.
International aid is mobilizing. The United States has pledged $15.5 million, while Conmebol and the Colombian Football Federation (FCF) are donating $1 million. Mexico has already repatriated 36 of its citizens from the affected region. Search and rescue operations in Chocó have concluded as authorities shift focus to humanitarian assistance and reconstruction.
Entities
Abelardo De La Espriella · Aerocivil · Aeronáutica Civil · Asocapitales · CONMEBOL · Cali · Chocó · Claudia Sheinbaum · Colombia · Donald Trump · El Salvador · Elsa Noguera
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] More than 600 people were injured in the earthquake.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The EU activated its consular assistance mechanism for affected EU citizens.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The EU has mobilized its Copernicus satellite service to support rescue operations.
- [● 7 SOURCES] The European Commission is cooperating with the German Red Cross on the ground.
- [● 8 SOURCES] The European Union allocated 100,000 euros in initial emergency aid to Colombia.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The earthquake resulted in at least 224 deaths.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The earthquake caused 165 buildings to collapse.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The United States has pledged 15.5 million dollars in support.
- [● 4 SOURCES] The airports in Cali, Quibdó, and Armenia have resumed operations.
- [○ 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.