Now Reading: Death toll in Colombia quake varies from 132 to 250
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Death toll in Colombia quake varies from 132 to 250
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday at 7:34 am local time, epicentre near San José del Palmar in Chocó. Rescue crews, soldiers and volunteers are digging through collapsed buildings…
The Story in Brief
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday at 7:34 am local time, epicentre near San José del Palmar in Chocó. Rescue crews, soldiers and volunteers are digging through collapsed buildings in Pereira, Cali and Quibdó. Sections of Cali's University Hospital collapsed, trapping patients. At least seven airports suspended operations for inspections.
Death toll figures vary sharply: Deccan Chronicle reports at least 241 dead and 1,670 injured; Times Now says 250; Economic Times and Odisha TV report 132 dead and 570 injured. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency. The US announced $15.5 million in aid. Aftershocks continue, and thousands have been left homeless.
The Indian Opinion
The wide gap in death tolls feeds a familiar narrative of government incompetence or media exaggeration. But early counts always differ: remote villages cut off by landslides are unreachable, and hospitals are overwhelmed. The real test will be the official consolidated tally after rescue teams reach every damaged settlement. How many names on that missing persons database are still unaccounted for? That number will settle the debate, not competing press releases.
Sources (4): deccanchronicle.com, timesnownews.com, economictimes.indiatimes.com, odishatv.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the 4 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 4 sources.
