7.4 Earthquake Devastates Western Colombia, Government Faces Growing Backlash

Overview

• The government has confirmed 289 deaths and roughly 3,900–4,200 injured after a magnitude-7.4 quake that hit the Pacific coast, with ongoing searches for dozens still reported missing in cities such as Cali.
• Official tallies show massive housing losses, with recent counts reporting at least about 134,342 damaged properties and some 29,554 destroyed, a scale that experts say will make reconstruction long and costly in low-insurance areas.
• Colombia authorized search-and-rescue teams from four countries — the United States, Israel, Ecuador and El Salvador — and the U.S. State Department offered about $26.5 million in humanitarian aid.
• President Abelardo de la Espriella told U.S. President Donald Trump he asked for a temporary suspension of higher U.S. tariffs on Colombian goods to help businesses recover, and no public U.S. decision has been reported.
• Political pressure on the administration has increased after a housing minister was photographed on a beach and other optics drew criticism, prompting an opposition lawmaker to file a formal motion of censure against the housing minister.