Colombia quake toll climbs past 265 as government unveils emergency plan

Colombia's government is rolling out exceptional measures to cope with the aftermath of Monday's powerful earthquake, as the official death toll climbed to at least 265 people. President Abelardo de la Espirella, in a Wednesday address, said 3,494 people were injured and the number of missing had risen to 496, though civilian databases suggest the true figure could be far higher, exceeding 4,100.

The 7.4 magnitude quake, which struck the country's west, has left a trail of destruction. According to the president, 11,347 homes were destroyed and 53,526 damaged, while 140 buildings collapsed. The temblor also damaged 1,819 educational establishments, 631 community centres, and 179 health centres. Infrastructure took a heavy hit, with one pedestrian bridge collapsed, 20 road bridges affected, 203 roads damaged, 44 aqueducts compromised, and five airports impacted.

De la Espirella described the impact as "enormous," requiring "great determination and political will" to rebuild homes, support victims, and provide relief. He outlined a package of temporary measures, including government payment of public utility bills for affected families, rent subsidies for those who lost homes, financial and tax relief, economic support for the most vulnerable, and aid for merchants and small entrepreneurs.

Meanwhile, search-and-rescue teams continued to comb through rubble in the hardest-hit cities of Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo, racing against time to find survivors. Aid agencies generally consider the first 48 to 72 hours critical for rescue, though that window can extend if trapped people have access to food and water. Regional partners began sending tons of aid to Colombia on Wednesday as the country grapples with the scale of the disaster.