Colombia’s Deadly Earthquake: New President Faces First Major Crisis as Rescue Efforts Intensify
A powerful 6.4-magnitude earthquake has struck Colombia, claiming the lives of more than 100 people and leaving a trail of destruction, particularly in the city of Cali and the department of Choco. The quake struck just three days after Abelardo de la Espriella was sworn in as president, thrusting his new administration into its first major crisis. With memories of the devastating twin earthquakes in neighboring Venezuela still fresh, the nation is now grappling with the urgent need for rescue and recovery.
Rescue teams and volunteers are working tirelessly, sifting through the rubble of collapsed buildings in Cali, the country’s third-largest city. Long lines of civilians are passing large pieces of concrete and debris, hoping to find survivors. In Choco, Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi reported significant damage in the capital, Quibdo, despite the epicenter being near San Jose del Palmar. President de la Espriella has assured that injured individuals and those requiring priority medical attention are being transferred to Medellín, utilizing all available hospital capacity. Meanwhile, Bogota’s mayor, Carlos Galan, confirmed that the capital escaped major damage.
International aid is beginning to flow in, with the United States pledging $15 million and dispatching a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) to support the government’s operations. The Colombian president has also announced that aid has been allocated to quake victims. As search and rescue efforts continue around the clock, the focus remains on finding survivors and providing immediate relief to those affected. The new administration’s response to this disaster will be closely watched, as the nation looks to recover from this tragic event.
Shimanta Das 
