Humanitarian Relief Swells as Colombia Battles 7.4‑Magnitude Earthquake

National and international rescue teams continue to search for survivors amid the rubble of the western Colombian quake that registered 7.4 on the Richter scale. Official figures record 319 fatalities, 4,469 injured persons and 260 individuals still listed as missing. So far, 364 people have been rescued, and 358 have been brought to safety.

The disaster has affected 476 municipalities and exposed roughly 272,830 residents to displacement. More than 220 tonnes of humanitarian supplies have arrived, and 144 foreign specialists are assisting local responders in relief and recovery operations.

Temporary shelters and tent camps remain crowded in the hardest‑hit zones of Valle del Cauca, Risaralda and Chocó, where many families are still living without permanent housing. Ongoing aid distribution focuses on food, clean water, medical care and psychosocial support for the affected communities.