Symbolic imageColombia earthquake death toll rises above 130 as rescuers search rubble
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit western Colombia on Monday, the strongest there in a decade. More than 130 people are confirmed dead and over 570 injured.
The epicentre lay near San José del Palmar in Chocó, 280 kilometres west of Bogotá; the depth, reported between 79 and 103 kilometres, carried the shaking to Ecuador, Venezuela and Panama. Most deaths were counted in Valle del Cauca, 66 by Tuesday including 25 in Cali, and at least 13 died in Chocó, with many people still missing. Cali's mayor Alejandro Eder reported 20 collapsed buildings with people trapped, Pereira's mayor Mauricio Salazar 65. Rescuers and residents dug through rubble by hand; Eder imposed an overnight curfew against looting.
Emergency declared
De la Espriella declared a national state of emergency on Monday; El País reported the government stopped short of powers to rule by decree. Authorities counted 61 collapsed buildings, 1,500 damaged homes, six closed airports and 18 percent of power demand temporarily unmet.
A president three days in office
The New York Times notes that de la Espriella was sworn in on Friday, 7 August, without ever having held public office; on Monday he toured Chocó.
US aid pledge
Washington pledged $15.5 million for emergency shelter, food and damage assessments, Le Monde reported.
Other opinions
Le Monde frames Israel and the US, allies of the hard-right president, as first to offer help; the Jerusalem Post reports Israel's offer alone.