Overview
- A 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday toppled tens of thousands of homes and damaged schools and health centers across more than 400 towns.
- Officials report roughly 280–285 dead, nearly 4,000 injured, and more than 100,000 people affected as search operations enter their final phase and survivor windows narrow.
- Local health authorities warn that unrecovered bodies, high temperatures, damaged plumbing and stalled genetic testing are creating a mounting sanitary and mortuary crisis.
- Hospitals in hard-hit areas such as Quibdó are near capacity and patients have been moved to larger cities while the new president calls for private‑public rebuilding plans and international aid begins to arrive.
- Immediate needs are shelter, clean water, medical care and technical building assessments, and long-term rebuilding will require coordinated funding, engineering surveys and sustained support for displaced families.