Death Toll Tops 100 as Colombian Civilians Aid in Rescue Efforts

Skip to Content News Archives Economy Energy Oil & Gas Renewables Electric Vehicles Mining Commodities Agriculture Real Estate Mortgages Mortgage Rates Finance Banking Insurance Fintech Cryptocurrency Work Wealth Smart Money Wealth Management Investor Personal Finance Family Finance Retirement Taxes High Net Worth FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials More Innovation Information Technology FP500 Podcasts Small Business Lives Told Tails Told Shopping Financial Post Store Obituaries Place a Notice Advertising Advertising With Us Advertising Solutions Postmedia Ad Manager Sponsorship Requests Classifieds Place a Classifieds ad Working Profile Settings My Subscriptions Saved Articles My Offers Newsletters Customer Service FAQ News Economy Energy Mining Real Estate Finance Work Wealth Investor FP Comment Executive Women Puzzmo Newsletters Financial Times Business Essentials This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.HomePMN BusinessDeath Toll Tops 100 as Colombian Civilians Aid in Rescue EffortsA deadly earthquake hit Colombia on Monday morning, toppling buildings, burying people under rubble and leaving more than 100 dead in the Pacific region and the central Andes.Author of the article:Oscar Medina and Katherine Pennacchio You can save this article by registering for free here. Or sign-in if you have an account.jkig8x47]lloda(usyu1gw[9_media_dl_1.png USGS(Bloomberg) — Lea en españolTHIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLYSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman, and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESSubscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada.Exclusive articles from Barbara Shecter, Joe O'Connor, Gabriel Friedman and others.Daily content from Financial Times, the world's leading global business publication.Unlimited online access to read articles from Financial Post, National Post and 15 news sites across Canada with one account.National Post ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on.Daily puzzles, including the New York Times Crossword.REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLESCreate an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one account.Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments.Enjoy additional articles per month.Get email updates from your favourite authors.THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK.Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience.Access articles from across Canada with one accountShare your thoughts and join the conversation in the commentsEnjoy additional articles per monthGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountA deadly earthquake hit Colombia on Monday morning, toppling buildings, burying people under rubble and leaving more than 100 dead in the Pacific region and the central Andes.The magnitude 7.4 quake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time near the town of San Jose del Palmar, Choco province, according to the US Geological Survey. Significant damage was reported in the country’s coffee heartland, the region immediately east of the epicenter.President Abelardo de la Espriella reported 111 deaths early Monday afternoon, with the total likely to continue rising as rescue teams search for survivors amid the wreckage. He said nearly 1,600 homes had been damaged and 60 buildings collapsed. Get the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againSome of the hardest-hit areas, particularly the provinces of Caldas and Risaralda, are part of Colombia’s coffee region, responsible for about a quarter of production. It wasn’t immediately clear how the industry would be affected by the quakes, but major roads were closed due to resulting landslides. Colombian aviation authorities said that operations had been suspended at five airports in the affected region. No damage to major energy infrastructure was immediately reported.The earthquake is the first major test for De la Espriella, who was sworn in on Friday in a ceremony in Cali, where on Monday at least 19 buildings collapsed, trapping residents under fallen masonry. He initially said he would travel to Risaralda province, scene of some of the most intense damage, then changed his destination to Bogota to coordinate with the National Risk and Disaster Management agency.In Manizales, the capital of Caldas, gaping holes in building facades exposed apartments to the street and shattered glass was strewn in front of shops, many of which remained closed. Chunks of concrete and debris blocked sidewalks and roads, creating traffic jams in parts of the city. Downed power lines laid in the streets, while broken pipes disrupted water supply. In some neighborhoods, residential gas service was suspended. Natalia Aguirre, a 40-year-old healthcare worker, said that when the quake hit she ran back to her home to get her children out. They were safe, but “everything inside the apartment was destroyed,” she said. Jacobo Pelaez, a 60-year-old personal trainer in the same neighborhood, said several of the buildings in his residential complex looked uninhabitable. “It’s frightening to go back inside because you don’t know if there will be an aftershock,” he added.Sirens echoed through the streets, where police have cordoned off some areas with yellow caution tape. Still, local emergency services in Manizales were overwhelmed on Monday, leaving civilians to help with rescue efforts. This advertisement has not loaded yet.This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below.Sebastián Guzmán, a 29-year-old biologist, worked alongside a group of friends in the Milan neighborhood in eastern Manizales. They were helping families at one building retrieve their belongs, when “the Fire Department arrived and told us that we had to leave because there was a risk of collapse.”About 140 miles north in Medellin, the nation’s second largest city, there were reported cracks in buildings but no initial reports of injuries.The disaster will complicate De la Espriella’s pledge to freeze public spending. The National Risk and Disaster Management agency gave a recommendation to declare a state of disaster, it said in a statement, a move that allows the government to speed up relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts.Some lawmakers are asking the president to also declare an economic emergency, which would allow him to raise taxes without going through congress. The earthquake also rocked buildings in Bogota, causing some residents to flee into the streets while still dressed in pajamas. There were no immediate reports of damage, according to the capital’s mayor. The US government is closely monitoring the situation and “stands ready to support the people of Colombia,” Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a social media post. De la Espriella is an ally of President Donald Trump, who endorsed him in June’s presidential election.Mexico’s Claudia Sheinbaum, Brazil’s Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva and Ecuador’s Daniel Noboa said their governments were available to provide support.The disaster revived memories of a devastating 1999 earthquake that struck the same area, killing nearly 1,200 people.The quake comes less than two months after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela in June. The official death toll from that disaster has surpassed 6,000, ranking it among the deadliest to hit Latin America in recent years.—With assistance from Luana Maria Benedito and Vivien Ngo.(Recasts with descriptions and interviews from Manizales.)Notice for the Postmedia NetworkThis website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.