A powerful earthquake in Colombia has left over 200 dead and thousands missing, marking the first major crisis for the country's newly inaugurated president.
Key facts
- •The earthquake epicenter was located near the mountain town of San José del Palmar in the Chocó region.
- •The Colombian Geological Service recorded 21 aftershocks by late Monday following the initial 7.4 magnitude quake.
- •The U.S. State Department pledged $15.5 million in emergency relief to Colombia on Monday.
- •The Russian Supreme Court overruled the Central Election Commission to remove the Yabloko party from the upcoming ballot.
- •A Syrian court sentenced Bashar al-Assad and eight other officials to death for crimes committed during the country's 14-year civil war.
Search and rescue operations are underway across Colombia following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck near San José del Palmar on Monday at 7:34 a.m. local time. The disaster has resulted in at least 200 confirmed deaths and left an estimated 3,000 people missing. President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office on Friday, has traveled to affected regions to coordinate the state's emergency response.
By the numbers
Extent of the Damage
The earthquake is the most powerful to hit Colombia in a decade, according to the Colombian Geological Service. Major cities including Cali, Quibdo, and Pereira have sustained significant damage, with an estimated 5,000 homes destroyed or damaged. Local authorities in El Cairo reported that approximately 80 percent of the town was damaged by the quake. Recovery efforts are complicated by the region's rural geography, which was already suffering from neglect and violence by armed groups. Patchy communication systems and difficult terrain are hindering access to remote villages. Chocó Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba Curi stated that a complete tally of physical damage is not yet available due to the massive scale of the destruction.
Government and International Response
President de la Espriella has pledged to support affected families while framing the disaster as a priority for his new administration. The United States has committed $15.5 million in emergency relief for Colombia, following a separate $1 billion security assistance pledge made to the government on Friday. In other regional developments, the Russian Supreme Court has barred the antiwar party Yabloko from the September 18 parliamentary elections, citing alleged campaign and copyright violations. Meanwhile, a Syrian court has sentenced former dictator Bashar al-Assad to death in absentia for war crimes, and violence continues in the Middle East with reports of Houthi attacks on shipping in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Timeline
- FridayPresident Abelardo de la Espriella was inaugurated.
- Monday, 7:34 a.m.The 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck near San José del Palmar.
- Monday nightPresident de la Espriella visited Quibdo to assess the emergency situation.
Advertisement
This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Foreign Policy.
