Colombia has activated a national emergency response after an earthquake struck Chocó and nearby departments.
President Abelardo de la Espriella called the National Committee for Disaster Management into action. He is coordinating the response with Javier Pava Sánchez, acting director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, or UNGRD.
Pava is leading operations from the National Crisis Room.
Initial reports indicate possible impacts in nine municipalities in Chocó. Authorities also reported possible damage in eight municipalities in Caldas, two in Valle del Cauca and two in Risaralda. Several municipalities in Quindío are also under assessment.
Officials said the full extent of the damage remains unclear.
Search-and-rescue teams deployed
Interior Minister Rodrigo Lara said four Urban Search and Rescue, or USAR, teams have been activated.
The teams come from Bogotá, Envigado, Yopal and Medellín. They will support search-and-rescue operations in affected areas.
Bogotá has also offered machinery and specialized rescue equipment. Meanwhile, Antioquia has offered aircraft to support operations where needed.
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Vice President José Manuel Restrepo and Housing Minister Jaime Andrés Beltrán Martínez are also monitoring the response.
They are receiving updates from governors and mayors in affected areas.
National Crisis Room coordinates response
The National Crisis Room remains active under UNGRD coordination.
The center is collecting reports from local authorities. It is also helping direct resources through Colombia’s National Disaster Risk Management System.
Meanwhile, local authorities are checking homes, infrastructure and communities for damage.
These assessments will help officials identify the most urgent needs.
Authorities continue damage assessments
The government said its immediate priority is to determine the scale of the damage.
Officials are also working to address urgent needs and provide support to affected communities.
However, authorities have not yet released a complete assessment of the earthquake’s impact.
The UNGRD continues to coordinate with local and regional authorities. It will provide further official updates as teams complete their field assessments.
For now, the government response remains focused on search and rescue, damage assessment and support for communities affected by the earthquake.
Reporting credit: Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres (UNGRD), Colombia.
Source: Official government emergency-response information provided by the UNGRD.
