A 132 deceased people increased the number of victims after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that affected the western zone of Colombia on Monday morning.
The figure was provided in a preliminary report by the Colombian Association of Capital Cities (Asocapitales), an entity that brings together the main cities of the country.
In its bulletin No. 148, Asocapitales reported that 87 of the 132 deceased are recorded in capital cities. In addition, it estimated more than 570 injured people as a result of the earthquake and warned that the balance could vary as search and rescue efforts progress.
According to the report, five of the 32 capital cities remain on red alert: Cali, Pereira, Quibdó, Manizales, and Armenia.
The count records 60 deceased in Pereira, 15 in Cali, eight in Quibdó, and four in Manizales.
“The balance shows a multidimensional emergency, with human losses, trapped people, structural collapses, and simultaneous impacts on hospitals, airports, roads, transportation systems, aqueducts, energy, telecommunications, educational institutions, and heritage assets,” Asocapitales stated.
For his part, the president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, provided tonight the number of victims and damages in the city of Cali, in the department of Valle del Cauca.
Through the periodic reports he committed to upon assuming leadership for the emergency and during his tour of the affected areas, De la Espriella went to the Unified Command Post (PMU) of Cali and updated the local figures with the damages caused by the earthquake.
President De la Espriella stated that “we have about 5,000 damaged and collapsed homes, 35 deceased, approximately 700 injured. We have 3 collapsed hospitals, 18 hospitals with damages, 39 affected educational centers, and the airport with some damages and restricted operation.”
Despite everything, the Colombian president expressed his concern for the missing people after the strong earthquake.
“What worries us the most are the 188 missing people, and at that particular point, is where we will concentrate the State’s action, all coordinated with the departmental government, municipal government, and national government,” added the head of state.
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Along those lines, he stated that after meeting with local authorities in Cali, the assistance of rescuers was requested, who were mobilized by De la Espriella.
“We already have in the city of Cali 228 rescuers and the canines who will help us in the search for the missing,” he affirmed.
Additionally, 105 military engineers were mobilized, the head of state reported, who will work on repairing the different structures.
During the new balance by President De la Espriella, occurrences of looting and public order problems in the city of Cali, in the department of Valle del Cauca, were also reported.
“Therefore, at dawn on Tuesday, we will have in the city more than 1,000 men, protecting and safeguarding the city to prevent riots and situations that disrupt public order,” the president detailed.
During the speech, the mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, was also present, who reported that the army was deployed in the area due to security problems. He also informed that from 8:30 p.m. (local time), a curfew will be applied in the city.
“We have 40 completely collapsed buildings (…) we have rescued 37 people, and tonight we decree a curfew. Obviously, this will not affect rescue operations. Both rescuers and volunteers will be able to continue working,” added Eder.
The head of state of Colombia highlighted as part of his concern the destruction of homes after the strong earthquake.
As a result, he stated that together with the Colombian Minister of Housing, Jaime Beltrán, a relief plan was presented, consisting of granting a rental subsidy for those affected and subsequent repair of the damaged homes to make them habitable again.
“We will give them a subsidy so they can move elsewhere and then comes the recovery of those homes”, explained De la Espriella, who highlighted that the private sector “has behaved very well” to achieve reconstruction.
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