Colombia Earthquake: 240 Dead, International Aid Pledged

Colombia has entered three days of national mourning after a powerful earthquake struck several regions on Monday, killing at least 240 people, according to departmental authorities. The quake also left more than 3,700 injured and roughly 25,000 families affected. As the country begins recovery, international help is on the way. Spain, the United States, Mexico, Ecuador, El Salvador, and Peru are among nations preparing to send aid. Vice President José Manuel Restrepo said Tuesday that multilateral organizations have already proposed $1.3 billion in various forms of cooperation. This pledge marks a shift from earlier uncertainty. Until now, the United Nations said it had not received an official request for assistance from Colombia. The earthquake, measured at magnitude 7.4 by the Colombian Geological Service (SGC), struck at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT). Its epicenter was in San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó. Since then, more than one hundred aftershocks have been recorded, none exceeding magnitude 4.0. Authorities have confirmed at least 239 deaths so far, but they expect the number to rise. Meanwhile, experts are questioning the country’s roadmap for rebuilding and rehabilitation in the wake of the disaster.