Colombia earthquake death toll rises to 314, 262 missing as rescue efforts continue

BOGOTÁ: The death toll from Colombia’s devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake has risen to 314, as rescue teams continue searching through collapsed buildings for 262 people still missing, according to the latest figures from the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD).

The powerful earthquake struck western Colombia at 7:34am on Aug 10, becoming the most devastating seismic event to hit the country this century. Its epicentre was located near San José del Palmar in the Pacific department of Chocó, at a depth of about 110 kilometres.

Despite the quake’s considerable depth, the impact spread across large parts of western Colombia, particularly the Coffee Axis and major urban centres including Cali and Pereira.

Authorities said 4,437 people had been injured, while 364 survivors had been rescued from the rubble. Overall, more than 262,000 people across 471 municipalities in 15 departments have been officially registered as affected.

The scale of physical destruction has left vital infrastructure badly damaged. At least 30,664 homes have been completely destroyed, while another 136,946 have suffered structural damage. A further 302 buildings have collapsed, mainly in Cali and Pereira.

The disaster has also disrupted essential public services. Damage has been reported at 3,470 schools, 4,971 community centres and 352 healthcare facilities. Several hospitals were forced to evacuate patients as buildings became unsafe.

Transport infrastructure has suffered major losses as well, with 449 roads, 58 vehicle bridges and 13 pedestrian bridges damaged. Authorities also reported damage to 105 municipal water systems and five regional airports, complicating relief operations and isolating vulnerable communities.

In Cali and Pereira, teams assessing damaged buildings have marked hundreds of structures with red warnings reading “No Habitar”, or “Do Not Occupy”. Thousands of residents have consequently been forced to sleep in temporary shelters, parks or makeshift camps.

The situation is even more difficult in rural areas of Chocó, Caldas and Quindío, where landslides have blocked roads and restricted access to some communities. Humanitarian agencies have warned that seasonal rainfall could worsen landslides and increase the risk of contaminated water and disease.

The rescue operation remains a race against time. Teams of firefighters, soldiers, volunteers and specialist rescuers continue clearing concrete and twisted metal while searching for signs of life.

The scale of the disaster is also expected to bring a huge economic burden. Early assessments suggest reconstruction and infrastructure losses could run into billions of dollars.

For thousands of displaced Colombians, however, the immediate priority remains more basic: finding missing relatives, securing shelter and restoring access to food, clean water and medical care.

As rescue crews continue their painstaking work, the earthquake has left Colombia facing not only a humanitarian emergency but also a long and costly road to recovery.