Colombia Quake Toll Rises: Thousands Unaccounted For as U.S. Pledges $15.5M Aid

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western …

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia has left more than 3,000 people unaccounted for, triggering an urgent rescue operation and a $15.5 million aid commitment from the Trump administration. The quake, which hit Monday near the Pacific coast, has caused widespread devastation, with local officials reporting at least 179 fatalities across the cities of Cali, Pereira, Chocó, and Manizales. The federal government's earlier count of 111 deaths is expected to rise as search teams sift through the rubble.

Emergency crews were seen in videos and photographs combing through collapsed structures, calling out for survivors amid the debris. In response to the crisis, the State Department announced on X that the U.S. is "united in prayer with the Colombian people" and stands ready to support President Abelardo De la Espriella's government. The $15.5 million in funding will go toward emergency shelter, food, protection services, and earthquake assessments.

The quake's epicenter was located in San José

The quake's epicenter was located in San José del Palmar, a town in the Chocó region that borders the Pacific Ocean. Approximately 1,600 buildings have been damaged or destroyed across the country, compounding the challenges for rescue teams already struggling to reach remote areas. President De la Espriella, who took office just days before the disaster, traveled to Chocó's capital, Quibdó, on Monday night and vowed to deploy "the entire military and police apparatus," including engineers, rescue workers, and search dogs.

In a statement on X, De la Espriella declared, "Chocó will never again be the 'land of the forgotten,'" and confirmed that immediate economic resources and humanitarian aid have been allocated for more than 1,400 affected families. The injured are being transferred to Medellín, where hospitals are operating at full capacity. The U.S. Geological Survey continues to monitor aftershocks, while international aid organizations are mobilizing to assist in the relief effort.