Colombia quake toll climbs to 281 as president gives grim accounting

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella on Thursday provided a stark update on the devastation caused by Monday's 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck the country's west. The death toll has risen to at least 281, with nearly 400 people still unaccounted for, he said.

In a national address, the president detailed the scale of the destruction: 10,677 homes destroyed and 65,841 damaged, along with 127 collapsed buildings. The quake also damaged 2,136 educational centers, 1,168 community centers, and 236 health facilities. Infrastructure took a heavy hit, with 12 pedestrian bridges collapsed, 34 vehicular bridges affected, and 198 roads damaged. The president also noted 71 aqueducts at risk and five airports damaged.

The president said 3,971 people were injured and that more than 44,900 families have been affected. He emphasized that those who lost loved ones and the missing remain the priority for the government's response.

While the official count of missing stands at 379, civilian-run databases suggest the number could be far higher, exceeding 4,200. Rescue teams and volunteers are racing against time, as aid agencies consider the first two to three days after a quake the prime window for finding survivors. People trapped in debris can survive longer if they have access to food and water, and many across the country continue to hold on to hope.