🕒 Created · Updated

President Abelardo De La Espriella Leads National Response to Major Colombian Earthquake

President Abelardo De La Espriella has taken personal leadership of the response to a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on August 10, 2026. The seismic event, centered in the Chocó department, left 287 to 289 people dead and thousands of others injured or missing. While the capital cities of Bogotá and Medellín suffered minor damage, five other regional capitals were placed on red alert due to significant destruction. The administration announced that the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) has recorded over 127,000 damaged homes and 26,000 destroyed buildings. Experts noted that high levels of informal construction and older structures lacking modern seismic codes contributed to the severity of the damage. To support the recovery, the World Bank provided US$ 200 million in aid. Private sector contributions include a donation of 150 billion pesos from the Gilinski family and 32 million dollars from David Vélez. The government is now transitioning from the initial rescue phase to a long-term reconstruction plan to address infrastructure and public services.

Sources