Colombian President: Initial losses from the earthquake amount to $9.6 billion

Colombian President Abigail de Espriella stated that initial estimates indicate the economic losses from the earthquake that shook the country days ago amount to 30 trillion pesos ($9.58 billion).

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake caused severe damage in western Colombia, starting from the port of Buenaventura on the Pacific coast and extending to the coffee-growing region and major western cities such as Cali and Pereira.

This disaster marks the first major crisis faced by de Espriella, who assumed office just days before the earthquake, and he must now oversee relief and reconstruction efforts.