Colombia Earthquake Toll Climbs Past 250
The death toll from Monday’s earthquake in western Colombia has climbed past 250, officials say, with hundreds injured and more than 2,700 people still reported missing as rescuers dig through the rubble. The magnitude-7.4 quake, centred on San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, devastated the city of Cali and surrounding towns. President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a state of emergency as the search for survivors goes on.
The toll has risen relentlessly since Monday, from about a hundred to more than two hundred and fifty by Wednesday, and officials warn it will climb further as crews reach mountain communities cut off by landslides. Mr de la Espriella said some 700 people had been injured in the Valle del Cauca department alone, and thousands have been left homeless or sheltering outdoors. Aftershocks continue to hamper the rescue, and the government is reported to be weighing an economic emergency to fund the relief effort. It is among the deadliest quakes to strike Colombia in decades, testing a president only weeks into office. Watch for the confirmed casualty figures as rescuers reach the epicentre.