The death toll from the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on August 10 has risen to 254, according to the latest official reports.
The Operative Information Center-OMM reports that the highest number of casualties occurred in the coffee-producing region of Pereira, with 101 deaths, followed by Cali, the country's third-largest city, with 95 fatalities.
Preliminary assessments indicate that approximately 1,600 buildings have been completely destroyed or severely damaged. Authorities currently report that more than 2,700 people remain missing, with families utilizing social media and specialized online platforms to search for information regarding their loved ones.
Search and rescue operations are ongoing in the affected areas. The efforts involve heavy machinery, including cranes and excavators, alongside numerous volunteers. Rescue operations are being significantly hampered by more than 100 aftershocks recorded since the initial tremor.
The international community has expressed solidarity with Colombia. Nearly 10 countries, including Türkiye and Israel, have sent messages of support and offers of assistance in response to the natural disaster.
Colombia is located in a seismically active region, situated along the Pacific Ring of Fire, which makes the nation particularly vulnerable to frequent tectonic activity. The country's geography, characterized by the Andean mountain range, often complicates logistics for emergency response teams following such large-scale seismic events.
