Colombia Earthquake Kills At Least 181, Injures 2,595, Leaves 195 Missing

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, and by Tuesday Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said at least 181 people had died, 2,595 were injured, and 195 remained missing.

“Al menos 181 personas han muerto, 2.595 han resultado heridas y otras 195 permanecen desaparecidas”

La Razón

La Razón reported that the quake occurred during the morning of Monday 10 de agosto with an epicenter in the department of Chocó near San José del Palmar at a depth of 103 kilómetros, and that the movement continued with a new 3,8 magnitude aftershock at 10.43 a.m. Tuesday also centered on San José del Palmar.

Al Jazeera

The AP described rescue crews and civilians searching through rubble Tuesday in dozens of cities and towns for survivors trapped under debris, with at least one woman retrieved alive.

In Pereira, the AP reported that Jairo Vargas made a 220-kilometer drive from Medellin hoping to find his brother alive, while he said, “The debris surrounding my brother is soft,” and added, “I don’t know. I have little hope.”

Rescue efforts continued Tuesday as the AP said the earthquake left devastated residents searching for signs of life, with volunteers passing buckets of rubble hand-to-hand and crews raising their hands for silence when they thought they heard someone beneath debris.

The AP reported that the Colombian Geological Service documented more than 100 less powerful aftershocks since the initial quake, and that Sterling Palacios said Chocó’s capital and smaller communities along the Atrato River were devastated.

AP News

In Cali and Pereira, the AP said local leaders and families worried about casualties and damage in rural areas where information was scarce, and it described Chocó as one of Colombia’s poorest and most neglected regions where much of the area is accessible only by boat, jungle routes, or airplane.

La Razón said authorities registered attempts of looting in Quibdó, Cali and Pereira, and it reported that in Cali 400 soldiers were deployed while some sectors remained militarized.

President de la Espriella declared the disaster a national emergency, and La Razón said the measure was intended to facilitate mobilization of resources for the emergency while the priority remained finding people under rubble.

“El presidente declaró el desastre de carácter nacional”

La Razón

La Razón reported that the president asked supermarkets to continue open and said the Fuerza Pública would guarantee order while rescues advanced, and it said more than 30 points were enabled to receive water, non-perishable food, medicines, and colchonetas.

The AP described de la Espriella traveling to Quibdo in Chocó on Monday night and announcing he was mobilizing “the entire military and police apparatus,” along with deploying engineers, rescue workers and search dogs.

The Economic Times said Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara told Blu Radio, “We are ... focused on the immediate task of saving lives, guaranteeing the arrival of rescue teams, bringing in medical supplies and field hospitals,” as the quake disrupted electricity, water, healthcare and phone service in several areas.