BOGOTÁ.- Colombia entered a national emergency Monday as the government mobilized resources following a devastating earthquake that killed at least 111 people and caused widespread damage across the western part of the country.
President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency as rescue and humanitarian operations expanded across the affected departments.
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The declaration gives authorities greater flexibility to mobilize personnel, emergency funding, equipment and other resources needed to respond to the disaster.
The earthquake struck Monday morning near San José del Palmar in Chocó and produced strong shaking across a broad area of Colombia. Tremors were also reportedly felt beyond the country’s borders.
The scale of the destruction became increasingly apparent throughout the day as local governments transmitted damage assessments to national authorities.
Homes, schools, medical facilities and public buildings were damaged, while dozens of structures reportedly collapsed completely. Transportation networks were also affected, with damaged roads and disruptions reported at several regional airports.
The national government began coordinating rescue teams, military personnel, police, health agencies and disaster-management authorities as operations shifted from the immediate response toward a broader humanitarian effort.
One of the greatest concerns remains communities that have been difficult to reach because of damaged infrastructure and communications problems.
Authorities are also monitoring aftershocks and have urged residents in damaged areas to remain cautious. Buildings that appear intact may still have suffered structural damage capable of making them unsafe.
Offers of assistance have begun arriving from other countries as Colombia assesses what international resources may be required.
The full human and economic cost of the disaster remains unknown. Search operations are continuing, damage assessments are still underway and officials have cautioned that casualty figures could change as information arrives from the hardest-hit communities.
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