Home / Disasters and Accidents / Colombia Quake Toll Climbs: 239 Dead, Thousands Hurt
Colombia Quake Toll Climbs: 239 Dead, Thousands Hurt
13 Aug
Summary
- Nearly 50,000 people were left homeless by the 7.4-magnitude earthquake.
- 140 buildings were destroyed in the devastating seismic event.
- International aid, including US teams, is assisting recovery efforts.
A devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake, the strongest to hit Colombia in at least a decade, struck the country's Pacific coast earlier this week. Authorities reported on Wednesday that at least 239 people have died and over 3,700 have been wounded. The powerful temblor, which occurred Monday morning, also led to the destruction of 140 buildings and left approximately 50,000 people without homes.
Rescue and recovery operations continued on Wednesday, with responders searching for survivors trapped within the rubble. The mayor of Cali expressed concern that the critical window for finding survivors was rapidly closing. International support has been mobilized, with the United States committing $15.5 million for emergency relief and deploying urban search-and-rescue teams from Los Angeles County and Fairfax County, Virginia, to bolster the ongoing efforts.
