The confirmed death toll now stands at 287, and the number of injured has reached nearly 4,000 injured from the deadly 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday. Although this is the sixth day of rescue operations and the chances of survival have decreased dramatically, rescuers and volunteers continue to search through the rubble in the mountains for 379 people still missing, while in many areas the stench of decomposition is already unbearable.
The country’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office just one week before the tragedy, likened the situation in the city of Pereira to “the Apocalypse.” He announced a “Marshall Plan” for the reconstruction of the poorest areas, as well as immediate financial aid to cover rent for the countless families left homeless, as more than 13,000 properties were severely damaged or completely destroyed.
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At the same time, the humanitarian crisis is worsening. In the city of Cali, the collapse of part of the morgue forced authorities to transport bodies to neighboring Palmyra for identification. Across the country, displays of solidarity have been moving, with thousands of citizens gathering food, water, and medicine at the stadium in the capital, Bogotá.
Internationally, the United States has increased its total aid to $26.5 million, while the World Bank plans to disburse $200 million to support earthquake victims.
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Source: CNA
