Colombia earthquake takes heavy toll on Choco, country's poorest region

Key Points:

• A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on August 10, with the Choco region as the epicenter, killing at least 312 people and destroying 29,000 homes, severely impacting an already impoverished area.
• Approximately 69,000 people in Choco were affected or displaced, with over 200 schools damaged and limited internet access hindering remote education for children in this predominantly Afro-Colombian and Indigenous region.
• Choco faces compounded crises due to the earthquake, ongoing armed conflict, and chronic underdevelopment, with poor infrastructure, limited healthcare resources, and difficult accessibility exacerbating recovery efforts.
• The only public hospital in Quibdo, Choco’s capital, is overwhelmed and under-equipped, lacking sufficient personnel, medical supplies, and functioning equipment to handle the surge in patients, with external aid and donations providing critical support.
• Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has pledged significant investment and job programs for Choco’s recovery, but local residents remain skeptical due to the region’s longstanding neglect and economic challenges.