BOGOTA — Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national emergency after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 254 people and triggering a large-scale search-and-rescue operation, according to Colombian authorities and Reuters reporting.
The earthquake struck on Monday, Aug. 10, in western Colombia and was the strongest recorded in the country this century, according to the Colombian Geological Service. The epicenter was in the Choco region, while major damage was reported in cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo.
De la Espriella, who had taken office only days before the disaster, declared the emergency to accelerate the deployment of resources and aid to affected communities. He visited damaged areas and pledged government assistance as emergency workers, soldiers, volunteers and local authorities continued searching collapsed buildings for survivors.
The death toll rose rapidly as rescue teams gained access to damaged areas. Reuters reported at least 254 deaths on Tuesday, while earlier official and media estimates had been lower as communications remained disrupted and assessments continued.
The earthquake damaged homes, schools, hospitals and other public infrastructure, displacing thousands of people. Authorities also reported difficulties reaching some communities in Choco, a remote and impoverished region where damaged roads and disrupted communications have complicated the relief effort.
Rescue workers continued searching through rubble in several cities, sometimes using their hands and forming human chains to remove debris. Emergency teams have also reported finding survivors, including a baby and her mother, more than a day after the earthquake.
The disaster prompted additional security measures in some affected cities. Cali authorities imposed a curfew amid concerns about looting, while damage to transportation infrastructure and airport disruptions complicated the movement of emergency personnel and supplies.
International assistance has also begun arriving. The United States pledged more than $15 million in support, while Mexico, El Salvador and other countries offered rescue personnel and emergency assistance.
The government has not yet issued a final assessment of the destruction, and rescue operations remain focused on locating people who may still be trapped beneath collapsed structures. Officials are continuing to assess damage and coordinate emergency relief as search teams work through the affected areas.
