The death toll from the powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10 has climbed to 319, with rescue teams still searching for 262 missing persons, the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) reported on August 20.
The quake, which hit at 7:34 a.m. local time with its epicenter near San Jose del Palmar in the Pacific department of Choco, was the most powerful seismic event to hit Colombia this century. Despite its intermediate depth of roughly 110 kilometers, the destruction spread rapidly across the country’s western Coffee Axis and major urban centers.
Widespread Destruction Across 15 Departments
According to updated UNGRD figures, at least 30,664 homes have been completely destroyed, 136,946 others sustained structural damage, and 302 buildings collapsed, primarily in Cali and Pereira. In total, 262,154 people have been officially registered as affected across 471 municipalities in 15 of Colombia’s 32 departments. The number of injured has climbed to 4,437, while 364 people have been rescued alive from the rubble.
Structural damage has been documented at 3,470 schools, 4,971 community centers, and 352 health care centers, several of which were forced to evacuate patients. The damage extends to 449 roads, 58 vehicular bridges, 13 pedestrian bridges, 105 municipal aqueduct systems, and five regional airports.
Displaced Residents Sleep in the Open
In urban centers like Cali and Pereira, assessment teams have marked hundreds of unsafe structures with red paint reading “No Habitar” (Do Not Occupy), signaling imminent risk of collapse and leaving thousands of displaced residents sleeping in temporary shelters or makeshift outdoor encampments.
Beyond urban centers, remote rural municipalities in Choco, Caldas, and Quindio remain severely isolated due to landslides blocking major access roads. Humanitarian organizations warn that secondary risks including heavy seasonal rainfall, contaminated water supplies, and potential landslides are escalating medical and health risks for displaced populations.
“We are experiencing a new moment, with more assertive policies and greater political will in favor of the Amazon,” said Mariana Napolitano, director of WWF-Brasil, in a separate statement about regional environmental efforts.
President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office just days before the earthquake struck, declared a national emergency and has personally led emergency committee efforts. The disaster has tested his new government’s capacity to manage one of the costliest recovery efforts in modern Colombian history, with economists projecting initial losses from structural and transport disruptions to reach billions of dollars.
Sources: Reuters; Anadolu Agency; Philippine News Agency; Wikipedia
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