The powerful earthquake that killed 289 people in western Colombia caused economic damages totaling approximately 9.57 billion dollars, according to a preliminary estimate announced today by the country’s president, Abelardo de la Espriegua.
Thousands of houses, apartment buildings, schools, and hospitals collapsed, particularly in cities along the Pacific coast and in a coffee-growing region, during the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country on August 10.
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De la Espregua emphasized that the cost of the damage, which was concentrated in one-third of the country, was estimated by a private company. He also revised the death toll downward to 289, with 4,187 injured.
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“Imagine the scale of the destruction. This is a preliminary figure that will change as we receive more information and as the situation becomes clearer in each region,” he said.
A week after the earthquake, Colombia is in the process of clearing the rubble, with little chance of finding survivors. Another 143 people are still missing.
The earthquake is the first major challenge facing the right-wing government of Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office on August 7, just three days before the deadly earthquake.
The president stated that he has tasked the Minister of Housing with implementing the “Miraculous Reconstruction Plan,” with the support of construction companies, financial institutions, insurance companies, governors, and mayors.
Colombia has received aid from the U.S., the EU, and organizations such as the World Bank.
SOURCE: APE
