Symbolic imageColombia quake toll rises to 265 as regional aid arrives
Colombia's president says at least 265 people died in Monday's magnitude 7.4 earthquake in the west. Aid from regional partners began arriving on Wednesday.
President Abelardo de la Espriella put those reported missing at nearly 500, while civilian-run databases cited by the Associated Press list more than 4,100 and El País gives about 200. He said more than 25,800 families were affected. Crews worked through more than 100 collapsed buildings in Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó, where 23 Colombian search and rescue teams joined firefighters and residents. In Pereira, rescuers pulled a woman out alive on Tuesday after a day and a half under debris.
A president slow to ask for help
El País reports that De la Espriella, on his third day in office when the quake struck, first insisted Colombian capacities sufficed and asked only for supplies, before accepting brigades and equipment from the United States and Argentina.
Beijing offers relief
Foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said on Wednesday that China would help in suitable ways in line with Colombia's requests, a day after Xi Jinping sent condolences and Beijing's development agency promised support.
Reconstruction bill
A US agency estimates rebuilding will require $1 billion to $10 billion, El País reports.
Other opinions
The South China Morning Post links Beijing's offer to the new president's turn toward Washington; El País highlights the uneven deployment in poorer cities such as Quibdó.