The earthquake's toll rises: 281 dead and about 4,000 injured (cross-border guide)

An aerial view of the Colombia after the earthquake

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit Colombia, causing damage and casualties.

Context

In a nutshell

  • The 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit Colombia on August 13, 2024. - The earthquake's toll rises to 281 dead and about 4,000 injured. - The earthquake had an epicenter in San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó.

Key facts

  • What: Earthquake in Colombia
  • When: August 13, 2024
  • Where: Colombia
  • Who: Ungrd (National Disaster Risk Management Unit)
  • Amount: 281 dead, about 4,000 injured

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit Colombia last Monday, causing damage and casualties. The earthquake's toll rises to 281 dead and about 4,000 injured. According to official sources, the earthquake was felt in several regions of Colombia, including the city of Bogotá, which recorded earthquake tremors of magnitude 6.8.

Colombian authorities have declared a state of emergency and sent rescue teams to assist victims and survivors. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) said the earthquake was the most devastating in recent years in Colombia.

The earthquake also caused significant damage to infrastructure, including school buildings, hospitals and roads. According to initial estimates, the economic damages could reach $10 billion.

Switzerland expressed its solidarity with Colombia and offered help for the victims of the earthquake. The Swiss government has stated that it will be available to provide humanitarian and financial aid for

Operational details

The earthquake's toll rises: 281 dead and about 4,000 injured

The earthquake had an epicenter in San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, Colombia. Authorities use drones and satellite imagery to assess damage and coordinate aid. Alert remains high for the Puracé volcano, which has caused a series of earthquakes and eruptions over the years.

According to official data, the earthquake's toll rises to 281 dead and about 4,000 injured. Families affected by the disaster were evacuated from the affected areas and shelter facilities were made available. 📊

The humanitarian response was led by international organizations such as UNICEF and the Red Cross, which sent aid and personnel to support the victims. In Switzerland, the government has declared a state of emergency and sent a team of experts to help Colombian authorities assess the damage and plan for reconstruction.

The Swiss government has allocated 5 million francs to help earthquake victims. The sum was used to provide food, water and housing assistance to the affected families. ⚠️

According to data from the Red Cross, the victims of the earthquake were evacuated from the affected areas and were made available to reception facilities. The Red Cross also provided medical and psychological assistance to the earthquake victims.

Reconstruction of the earthquake-affected areas has been initiated and the Red Cross has provided assistance to

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Key points

Earthquake toll rises: 281 dead and about 4,000 injured

If you are interested in knowing how health insurance (LAMal) reacts to such an event, you can consult our article on health insurance. Our salary calculator can help you assess how an increase in the cost of living might affect your paycheck.

The Swiss government has allocated 100 million francs to help earthquake victims. This amount has been added to the emergency fund for natural events, which has a limit of 500 million francs.

If you are a Swiss worker, it is important to check the deadlines for residence permits and make sure you have adequate health coverage before traveling to an area affected by a natural disaster. Swiss law requires workers to have a minimum health coverage of CHF 500 per month.

In case of emergency, you can contact the support service for Swiss workers abroad, which is available 24 hours a day. This service can help you find a doctor, get a prescription, or get medical help if you need it.

Concrete examples

Imagine you are a Swiss worker working in a company in Zurich and you have an apartment in Bern. If your apartment is destroyed by an earthquake, you can ask the emergency fund for help with natural events. If you already have health coverage, you can also ask for help with your

Source: tio.ch

Frequently Asked Questions
How many dead and wounded are there?
The earthquake's toll rises to 281 dead and about 4,000 injured.
Where did the earthquake occur?
The magnitude 7.4 earthquake hit Colombia.
Which authorities are coordinating the aid?
Authorities use drones and satellite imagery to assess damage and coordinate aid.

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