Death Toll Rises from Colombia Earthquake as Unchecked Areas Remain

The death toll from the earthquake that rocked Colombia on Monday continues to climb. According to the Association of Colombian Capital Cities (Asocapitales), the fatalities have reached 181, with 1,310 people injured and 153 structures collapsed in the country's major cities.

Asocapitales, a nonprofit organization founded in 2012, represents Colombia's 32 capital cities, which collectively house nearly 47% of the population and contribute to 55% of the nation's GDP. Its role is to coordinate responses with the National Government during emergencies, gathering data from mayors' offices, risk management agencies, and national entities.

In a statement, the association warned that the figures "remain preliminary and are subject to change, as local authorities and response teams continue to be deployed in the affected regions," indicating that the actual number of victims could be significantly higher.

The Hardest-Hit Cities: Cali and Pereira

Cali leads the count with 95 deaths, followed by Pereira with 66. Quibdó has reported nine fatalities, and Manizales five. Asocapitales emphasized that Cali and Pereira account for 151 of the 165 deaths recorded in the capital cities, making up more than 91% of the fatalities reported in these areas.

In Cali, a four-story building collapsed, prompting emergency teams to search for possible survivors. The association detailed that "early reports indicated collapses with people trapped, damage to hospital infrastructure, roads, and mass transit stations, as well as a need for specialized urban search and rescue teams."

In Pereira, Asocapitales noted that "the emergency has also affected numerous buildings and strategic infrastructure," with "damage to health facilities, impacts at Matecaña Airport, and challenges in communication and energy supply, complicating the final assessment."

Pereira's mayor, Mauricio Salazar, imposed a curfew from 6 p.m. to 5 a.m. to prevent looting, deploying 1,000 army personnel across 40 strategic points.

The Most Powerful Quake in 47 Years

The 7.4-magnitude quake, which struck on August 10 at 7:34 a.m. local time, had its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó department, at a depth of between 96 and 103 kilometers. The Colombian Geological Service classified it as the strongest earthquake recorded in the country in the 21st century and the most powerful in 47 years, surpassing the devastating 1999 Eje Cafetero earthquake.

The United States Geological Survey issued an orange alert, estimating that the most likely scenario places the final death toll between 100 and 1,000, with a 20% probability that the number could exceed 1,000 fatalities.

Government Response and Corporate Solidarity

President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office just three days before the quake, declared a national disaster and established a Unified Command Post. In recent hours, the Colombian president reiterated his support for the affected families and announced that "rental subsidies will be provided" as reconstruction efforts progress.

The National Association of Industrialists has called for a corporate solidarity day this Tuesday to "organize donations, mobilize capacities, and coordinate resources and solutions to address the most urgent needs."

Meanwhile, rescue teams are racing against time in the hardest-hit areas, knowing that the number of victims will likely rise as authorities gain access to regions that have yet to be assessed.