President of Colombia decrees three days of national mourning for those killed in the 7.4 magnitude earthquake
For three days the Colombian government will raise the flag in public buildings and diplomatic missions in memory of the human losses
The president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, declared a three-day national mourning for the victims of the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that hit several parts of the country last Monday and left nearly 240 dead, according to regional authorities, the Government reported this Wednesday.
“The national government, on behalf of the Colombian people, expresses its deep sorrow for the death of the people who lost their lives due to the seismic movement that occurred on August 10, 2026 in the national territory, and expresses its solidarity with the mourning of the families and friends of these people,” states a decree issued by the Presidency.
For this reason, for three days, starting today, “the national flag will be raised at half-mast” in the country's public buildings and in Colombia's diplomatic missions abroad, the decree adds.
According to the document signed by De la Espriella, who assumed the Presidency just five days ago, “the loss of human life mourns both their families and friends, as well as the national Government,” which “shows solidarity in the face of such a tragedy,” events that also “sadden an entire country.”
The earthquake, which is the strongest suffered by the country in this century, occurred on Monday at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT) and had its epicenter in San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, one of the most affected by the tragedy along with those of Valle del Cauca, Risaralda and Caldas, in the southwestern and central regions of Colombia.
According to figures released on Tuesday by De la Espriella, the earthquake leaves at least 181 people dead for the moment, but data from regional authorities raise that number to approximately 240 dead, while the search and rescue of hundreds of people trapped under the rubble continues, mainly in the cities of Cali and Pereira, where dozens of buildings collapsed. EFE
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