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The death toll from a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia has risen to 265, with rescue teams continuing to search for 496 people reported missing. The government has declared an economic emergency following the widespread destruction caused by the disaster.
President Abelardo de la Espriella said in a statement in the capital, Bogota, that the earthquake had affected 53,816 people from 25,872 families.
De la Espriella said 3,494 people were injured, while the number of missing people had risen to 496.
Government announces economic emergency
Declaring an economic emergency because of the scale of the disaster, De la Espriella said a special fund would be established to channel national and international resources toward rebuilding hospitals, schools, roads, airports and other infrastructure.
According to a report released by Colombia’s National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) on August 12, the earthquake completely destroyed 9,215 homes and damaged another 45,457 structures.
The disaster also caused extensive damage to education and healthcare infrastructure.
A total of 1,667 educational facilities, 530 community centers, 188 health centers, 43 aqueducts and 29 banks were damaged.
Transport infrastructure was also heavily affected, with damage reported to 129 roads, 20 vehicle bridges, one pedestrian bridge and two airport terminals.
Cali and Pereira among worst-hit cities
Cali, one of the cities hardest hit by the earthquake, reported 92 deaths and 230 missing people. A total of 107 homes were destroyed, while another 800 were damaged.
In Pereira, 83 people were killed and 45 remain missing. Authorities said 75 buildings collapsed, while numerous roads and bridges were damaged.
In Quibdo, nine people were reported dead and four missing. The earthquake damaged 1,198 homes, including 48 that were completely destroyed.
A total of 331 people have been rescued alive from the rubble in Cali and Pereira since the earthquake struck. Rescue teams pulled 243 people from collapsed structures in Pereira and 88 in Cali.(ILKHA)
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