Colombia declares state of emergency after 319 killed in earthquake

Rio de Janeiro, August 20 (Reuters) – The Colombian government declared a 30-day state of emergency in 15 affected regions following the devastating earthquake that struck earlier this month.

The National Disaster Risk Management Unit announced on Thursday that the death toll had risen to 319, with more than 4,500 people injured and 260 others still missing.

President Abigail de la Espriella, who assumed office just two weeks ago, wrote on the X platform: “The scale of this tragedy requires us to act on multiple fronts simultaneously: continuing the search for the missing, caring for the injured and affected, restoring vital infrastructure to operation, and beginning now to prepare for the reconstruction of the damaged areas.”

The economic, social, and environmental state of emergency also allows the government to issue temporary decrees with the force of law, according to El Tiempo newspaper.

Global Colombian-born star Shakira visited the heavily damaged Pacific coast region of Chocó last Monday and pledged financial assistance to rebuild destroyed schools. She stated that her foundation, “Pies Descalzos” (Barefoot), had already received pledges of donations totaling $1 million for reconstruction efforts.