Colombian President Thanks Putin for Condolences
The death toll from the catastrophic magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday has risen to 254, with the search for survivors still ongoing.
The death toll from the catastrophic magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday has risen to 254, with the search for survivors still ongoing.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella publicly thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for his expressions of condolences and solidarity following the devastating earthquake that struck the western part of the South American country on Monday, August 10, 2026.
"We gratefully accept your words addressed to those who have lost their loved ones and to all Colombians who are now trying to recover from what has happened. Our country is united: we are addressing the aftermath of this emergency and providing support to every affected family. Thank you for standing with Colombia in this difficult time," de la Espriella wrote on the social media platform X.
The Colombian president was responding to a message conveyed by the Russian embassy in Colombia, in which Putin expressed deep condolences over the significant loss of life and destruction. "Please accept my deepest condolences for the numerous casualties and extensive destruction caused by the earthquake in the western regions of Colombia. Convey my sincere sympathy and support to the families and friends of the deceased, as well as my wishes for a speedy recovery to all those affected by this disaster," the embassy quoted Putin as saying.
The death toll from the magnitude 7.4 earthquake has risen to 254, according to Reuters, citing official figures, while rescue teams continue to race against time in their search for survivors beneath the rubble. The hardest-hit cities are Pereira, where 101 people lost their lives, and Cali, with 95 fatalities. The earthquake, whose epicenter was near the town of San Jose del Palmar in the Choco department, severely damaged residential buildings, hospitals, and schools, leaving thousands homeless.
Rescue efforts are being hampered by aftershocks, power, water, and gas outages, as well as blocked roads. Authorities warn that it will take several more days to determine the full extent of the damage and the final death toll. Reports on the total number of casualties vary; Russia's TASS agency, citing radio station BluRadio, reports 234 fatalities.
