Death Toll in Colombian Earthquake Rises to 265

JAKARTA - The death toll from the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook Colombia earlier this week has reached 265 people, with 3,494 others injured and 496 missing, said President Abelardo de la Espriella.

Previously, the association of the regional capital of Colombia reported 241 people dead, 1,762 injured, and 279 missing due to the earthquake.

"We recorded 53,816 people in 25,872 families affected by the earthquake. Unfortunately, 265 people were killed, 3,494 people were injured, and the number of missing people increased drastically to 496 people," de la Espriella said in a statement broadcast on Caracol television.

"Our current efforts are focused on finding those who are missing," he added.

According to the Colombian President, the earthquake caused the collapse of 53,816 houses, 140 buildings, and damaged 1,819 educational institutions, 631 community centers, and 179 health facilities.

The earthquake also damaged 20 toll bridges, 203 roads, 44 water supply installations, and five airports, he said.

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake that shook Colombia on the morning of August 10 was centered in the Choco region.

The earthquake tremors, as reported by Antara, were felt in almost all areas of Colombia as well as a number of neighboring countries.