The Daily Journal.- A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck southwestern Colombia on Monday, leaving a devastating preliminary toll. The nationwide death toll rose to 71. Local authorities confirmed a sharp increase in fatalities in the Valle del Cauca region.
President Abelardo De La Espriella declared a national disaster to address the tragedy, which has claimed the lives of at least 71 people.
Speaking to the media, regional governor Dilian Francisca Toro provided an initial assessment of the earthquake’s impact in her jurisdiction: “In the department of Valle del Cauca (…) we have approximately 27 people dead,” the governor said.
However, the situation could become even more dire as the hours pass. The governor clarified that the initial report does not include any potential deaths in Cali, the departmental capital and the main urban center in the affected area.
Emergency, rescue, and risk management teams continue working across the affected areas, removing debris, assisting the injured, and assessing infrastructure damage in municipalities throughout southwestern Colombia.
With information from Radio Caracol.
