The Colombian government declared a 30-day state of emergency in 15 departments affected by the devastating earthquake on August 10.
The death toll has risen to 319, more than 4,500 people have been injured, and another 260 are still missing, according to the latest report from the National Disaster Management Agency (UNGRD).
ΣΧΕΤΙΚΑ ΑΡΘΡΑ
Canadian Anne Carson Wins the Nobel Prize in Literature
A Look Back at Apollon’s International Soccer Players
The measure will allow the government to mobilize resources more quickly for emergency aid and reconstruction in the affected areas.
“The scale of this tragedy requires us to act on several fronts simultaneously: to continue the search for the missing, to care for the injured and those affected, restore vital infrastructure, and begin preparations now for reconstruction in the affected areas,” President Ambelardo de la Espriega told X; he took office just two weeks ago.
The cost of reconstruction is estimated at more than 11 billion euros, according to a report in the newspaper El Tiempo.
The August 10 earthquake, measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale, shook a large part of western Colombia. The departments of Valle del Cauca, Chocó, and Risaralda were hit the hardest. The earthquake leveled 361 buildings, destroyed 31,461 homes, and caused significant damage to another 163,492, according to the latest update from the UNGRD.
READ ALSO: Peru Rocked by 6.7-Magnitude Earthquake: Landslides, Injuries, Panic, and Damage to Dozens of Buildings (VIDEO) | AlphaNews
Source: KYPE
