Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Reaches 273; Thousands Injured and Displaced

The death toll from a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday morning has reached 273, with an additional 3,284 people injured, according to David Tamayo, director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management. Tamayo provided updated casualty figures during a Thursday news conference, offering the most comprehensive assessment of the disaster to date.

Among the confirmed fatalities, 250 have been submitted to the medical examiner’s office for processing, with 227 already identified and 189 bodies returned to families. The hardest-hit areas included the city of Cali with 96 deaths, Pereira with 93 deaths, and the Chocó region, which hosted the earthquake’s epicenter, with 13 confirmed deaths.

Structural damage across the affected region has been extensive, with approximately 12,600 homes completely destroyed and more than 74,800 additional properties sustaining damage. Tamayo indicated that his agency is actively monitoring Puracé volcano in the Cauca region and assessing shelter capacity in preparation for potential evacuations should volcanic activity intensify.

International and organizational support has begun flowing toward recovery efforts. The United Arab Emirates committed $10 million in aid, announced Thursday by Colombian President Abelardo De la Espriella, while the South American Football Confederation and Colombian Football Federation jointly pledged $1 million toward reconstruction initiatives.