BOGOTA — China has offered humanitarian assistance to Colombia following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that killed at least 265 people and left hundreds missing, as Colombian rescuers continued searching collapsed buildings in the country’s hardest-hit areas.
The earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, causing widespread damage in Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó and damaging homes, hospitals and other infrastructure. Colombia’s authorities have continued rescue operations while shifting increasingly toward debris removal in some locations, Reuters reported on Thursday.
China’s offer of assistance comes as governments and international organizations respond to the disaster. However, publicly available Chinese government sources reviewed for this report did not provide independently verifiable details on the value, form or delivery schedule of Beijing’s proposed assistance to Colombia.
Colombian authorities have sought to manage the international response through specific requests for assistance. President Abelardo de la Espriella’s government has said it would accept certified search-and-rescue teams, while aid and emergency support have arrived from several countries.
The quake was centered near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, according to the U.S. Geological Survey and Colombian authorities. The tremor, one of the strongest to hit Colombia in decades, caused extensive structural damage across western parts of the country.
Rescue teams have continued working around collapsed structures, with authorities reporting hundreds of people still missing. The Colombian government has also established an economic emergency and announced plans for a reconstruction fund to coordinate domestic and international assistance.
China has previously provided emergency disaster assistance in Latin America, including following major earthquakes in Venezuela earlier this year. Beijing said in June that its government and the Red Cross Society of China would provide emergency humanitarian assistance to Venezuela, with additional support later announced for relief and reconstruction.
Colombia’s rescue operation remained active on Thursday, with officials continuing to assess casualties and damage as international assistance was coordinated with national emergency efforts.
