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President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo Confirms the Deaths of Mexican Tourists Mario Alberto Zapata Verdier and Brenda Eloísa Flores Reyes

President Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo confirmed that Mexican tourists Mario Alberto Zapata Verdier and Brenda Eloísa Flores Reyes were killed during a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Pereira, Colombia. The couple, who were on vacation at the Dibeni hotel, were last seen on the morning of August 10 before the seismic event caused the building to collapse. Relatives of the victims expressed their grief after days of uncertainty. Mario Alberto Zapata Verdier's brother, Germán Zapata Verdier, shared a message of mourning on social media, while Brenda Eloísa Flores Reyes's sister, Alessa, also shared a sign of mourning. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been in contact with the families, providing support and coordinating with Colombian rescue groups. Durango Governor Esteban Villegas Villarreal noted that while the state government lacked official information initially, the diplomatic authorities are now responsible for the follow-up. The earthquake left 285 people dead and 3,975 wounded in Colombia.

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