Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Hits 265 as President Announces Emergency Fund

Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella has pledged to establish an emergency fund to rebuild hospitals, schools, homes and critical infrastructure destroyed by Monday’s powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake, which killed at least 265 people and left nearly 500 missing.

Calling the disaster a “tragedy of immense proportions,” De La Espriella said rescue efforts remain focused on locating missing residents. The president, inaugurated just three days before the earthquake, also declared an economic emergency, although specific measures have yet to be announced.

The Colombia earthquake struck shortly after 7 a.m. local time on Monday, damaging cities across the western part of the country. Authorities estimate 3,770 people were injured and more than 9,550 homes destroyed. Pereira reported 83 deaths, while Cali recorded 74.

In Cali, rescue teams concentrated their efforts on seven collapsed buildings where survivors could still be trapped. Officials warned that crews were approaching the end of the crucial 72-hour period when the likelihood of finding survivors is significantly higher.

At the Torres del Limonar complex, residents, soldiers and government workers formed bucket brigades to remove debris. Police later restricted volunteer access to reduce noise and vibrations that could interfere with equipment used to detect movement beneath the rubble.

Families across affected communities continued waiting for news of missing relatives. In Palmira, relatives gathered outside a morgue as officials identified victims, while survivors described losing family members and homes.

The earthquake also disrupted parts of Colombia’s vital coffee industry. Buenaventura port operations were temporarily suspended while authorities assessed landslides affecting major roads. However, coffee federation chief German Bahamon said exports were continuing mainly through Caribbean ports.

The disaster represents an immediate challenge for De La Espriella’s new administration, particularly after his campaign emphasized reducing public spending. International assistance has begun arriving from Peru, Mexico and El Salvador, while Mexican search-and-rescue specialists have also joined emergency operations.

With thousands displaced and widespread infrastructure damage, pressure is mounting on the Colombian government to accelerate rescue operations and provide long-term reconstruction assistance to devastated communities.