The government of Colombia raised the number of deceased to 329 and the number of missing to 247 as a result of the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that shook the country on August 10.
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The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) also reported that the number of injured increased to 4,600, while the number of rescued people remained at 364.
The earthquake left 154,014 affected families, comprising 314,751 people, in 481 municipalities of 16 of the 32 departments of the country.
Regarding material damage, 171,273 homes were damaged, another 31,183 were destroyed, and 553 buildings collapsed, mainly in Cali and Pereira, identified as the two cities most affected by the earthquake.
Damage was also recorded in 367 health centers, 3,710 educational centers, 5,584 community centers, and 427 roads. Regarding animals, the UNGRD counted 1,259 rescued and 3,182 injured.
The earthquake, described as the strongest experienced by Colombia in this quarter-century, had its epicenter in San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, and especially affected Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, Caldas, and Quindío.
In Cali, authorities closed the search, rescue, and victim recovery phase on Friday after locating the last person who remained under a collapsed building.
The city will begin a new phase focused on demolition of at-risk buildings, debris collection, and reconstruction.
“It is a very important moment. It is also a very painful moment, because it adds to the victims who have died in this disaster, it adds to the pain of the people of Cali,” said Mayor Alejandro Eder, who thanked the work of rescuers, volunteers, members of the public force, and medical personnel who participated in the emergency.
The official balance in Cali left 150 deceased, certified by the Technical Investigation Corps (CTI) of the Prosecutor’s Office, of which 140 have already been handed over to their families.
During the emergency, additionally, 88 people were rescued alive and more than 1,500 were injured. Currently, 50 people remain hospitalized in the city’s healthcare centers.
