One week after the devastating earthquake that struck western Colombia, the human and financial toll remains severe, while the figures released by the authorities are still described as preliminary. According to the official version, 289 deaths have so far been confirmed, along with 4,187 injuries and 143 missing persons.
Damage estimated in the billions of dollars
According to a preliminary estimate made public by President Abelardo de la Esprija, the damage caused by the 7.4-magnitude earthquake amounts to about $9.57 billion.
The president himself has acknowledged that this figure is not final. According to him, the estimate was carried out by a private company and is expected to change as authorities gather more data from the affected areas.
A severe blow across a large part of the country
The Aug. 10 earthquake hit one-third of Colombia’s territory hard, with particularly severe consequences in cities along the Pacific coast and in the region known for coffee cultivation.
According to the published data, thousands of homes, apartment buildings, schools and hospitals have been damaged or collapsed, turning the crisis into an emergency of national proportions.
Hopes of finding survivors are fading
One week after the disaster, emergency teams continue clearing rubble, while the possibility of finding more survivors is becoming increasingly small.
The toll reported so far by the authorities stands at 289 dead, 4,187 injured and 143 people still listed as missing.
Government faces its first major test
This catastrophe represents the first major challenge for the right-wing government of President De la Esprija, who took office on Aug. 7, just three days before the earthquake.
According to the president, the housing minister has been tasked with implementing a reconstruction plan in cooperation with construction companies, financial institutions, insurance companies, governors and mayors. At this stage, it remains to be seen how these announcements will translate into concrete intervention on the ground.
Help from international partners
Colombia has received assistance from the United States, the European Union and international organizations, including the World Bank, to deal with the consequences of the earthquake and the reconstruction process.
The real weight of that support is expected to become clearer only after more complete assessments of the damage and needs in the affected areas are released.
With the human toll still heavy and financial losses still being reassessed, Colombia is facing a crisis in which the official figures provide only the first measure of the catastrophe.
On the ground, the decisive test is not the announcement of plans, but the speed and transparency with which aid reaches the affected communities.