Official knowledge indicated that 1,495 folks have been injured and at the least 126 died in Monday’s 7.4 magnitude quake, which flattened houses and buildings within the west of the nation and prompted landslides.
“Almost 5,000 houses have been broken and 387 have been destroyed; 61 buildings have collapsed and greater than 550 instructional establishments, 24 well being services and greater than 350 neighborhood centres have [been] affected,” mentioned Jens Laerke, spokesperson for the UN assist coordination workplace, OCHA.
“These are official Authorities figures, we all know they’re being up to date as extra data is available in.”
“There has not been any official request for worldwide help,” he continued. “Ought to that occur, your complete UN system and, after all, humanitarians specifically stand able to assist with every thing we have.”
The UN system already has groups assessing the state of affairs within the affected areas and is making ready, along with the Authorities, an preliminary emergency response assembly to find out wants and what help might be mobilized, based on the UN Resident Coordinator in Colombia, María José Torres Macho.
Take heed to the highest UN assist coordinator’s interview with UN Information’s Laura Quiñones beneath:
Well being wants
The UN World Well being Group (WHO) cited official Colombian knowledge from late Monday indicating that injury has been reported in 24 well being services throughout six departments.
Valle del Cauca division skilled the “most vital well being infrastructure impacts” and significantly the town of Cali, mentioned WHO spokesperson Tarik Jasarevic. Key services affected embrace Hospital Universitario del Valle, the place a part of a tower housing cardiology and paediatric companies collapsed, and Clinica Nuestra, which was totally evacuated.
“Our workplace within the nation in Colombia activated its emergency response and its subject groups and groups have been deployed to affected areas, together with Cali and Chocó, to assist well being sector evaluation and coordination,” Mr. Jasarevic mentioned, briefing journalist in Geneva.
The earthquake struck at round 7:34am native time, with its epicentre close to San José del Palmar, in Chocó division, near Valle del Cauca.
The tremor was felt throughout massive elements of Colombia and in neighbouring nations, together with Panama, Ecuador and Venezuela.
Largest quake in a long time
Based on the Colombian Geological Service, the quake’s epicentre was at a depth of about 103 kilometres (64 miles), and was the most important seismic occasion recorded within the nation this century.
Pereira, a metropolis of round 500,000, lies about 35 miles from the epicentre. As emergency groups seek for survivors, the town’s mayor reported 18 lifeless there late Monday.
In Cali, the nation’s third largest metropolis, authorities reported a number of landslides with folks trapped and requested reinforcements for rescue operations.
Harm has additionally affected transport infrastructure together with at six airports closed for inspections: Quibdó, Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura. Popayán airport in Cauca is working with restrictions owing to an unrelated alert for the doable eruption of the Puracé volcano.
The Authorities has activated emergency coordination centres in Bogotá, Quibdó, Armenia and Cali, whereas authorities proceed rescue operations and assessments.
Evacuation orders have been issued as far-off because the capital, Bogotá, which is 250 miles east of San José del Palmar.
The UN Youngsters’s Fund (UNICEF) is monitoring the state of affairs and coordinating with companions and nationwide authorities to evaluate wants and assist affected kids and adolescents, whereas the UN Improvement Programme (UNDP) is working with authorities establishments to assist analyse injury and desires.
Miroslav Jenča, the pinnacle of the UN Verification Mission in Colombia, expressed solidarity with victims and affected communities, significantly in Chocó, Eje Cafetero and Valle del Cauca, and mentioned the Mission was accessible to assist the authorities’ response.
