Sánchez owns a small company that makes work uniforms in his hometown of Pereira, one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake. The quake was the strongest recorded in the country in a decade. Sánchez and his 12 employees managed to escape the factory when a wall collapsed, according to the AP.
But many were not so lucky. Death tolls vary, but over two hundred people are reported to have died, over 600 have been injured and more than 3,000 are missing. There is considerable evidence that the death toll could rise. Around 1,600 buildings were reported to have been damaged or collapsed. Many are trapped under the rubble, which is being searched by soldiers, rescue workers and relatives.
Support from the United States
According to CNN , the neonatal and pediatric departments of a hospital in the city of Cali have collapsed.
The United States will send $15.5 million, equivalent to approximately SEK 147 million, in emergency aid to Colombia, the US State Department said.
“We are united in prayer with the Colombian people and stand ready to support President de la Espriella and his government as they assess the needs on the ground,” the State Department writes on X.
Help has also been promised from the EU as well as Mexico and countries in South America.
Magnitude of 7.4
The magnitude 7.4 quake, centered in San José del Palmar in the Chocó department, struck at a depth of 107 kilometers early Monday local time, and mainly affected western Colombia, according to the US Geological Survey.
Colombia's newly elected President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a state of emergency and promised a coordinated rescue effort.
