Although the epicenter of the strong magnitude 7.4 earthquake that shook Colombia on August 10 was the municipality of San José del Palmar, in Chocó, there are few images showing how that department and several of its municipalities were left.
Reporters from EL TIEMPO in several of the affected areas and sources on the ground have begun to share photos of the devastation experienced by the inhabitants of one of the departments with the greatest needs in the country.
San Juan Coast
In the images known to EL TIEMPO, it can be seen that one of the most affected municipalities is the San Juan Coast, which borders the department of Valle del Cauca.
The recordings show completely destroyed houses. As well as indigenous reserves with huts and wooden constructions on the ground.
Robinson Victoria, one of the members of an indigenous community in the area, told EL TIEMPO that they need immediate help.
“There are many destroyed houses and affected homes, the earthquake also damaged many appliances,” Victoria said.
Quibdó and San José del Palmar
Undoubtedly one of the most devastated places is San José del Palmar, the epicenter of the earthquake.
EL TIEMPO interviewed the mayor of that municipality on Monday, August 10, who said that about 400 homes were affected and nearly 20 collapsed.
“We know that one of the most affected points is the corregimiento of La Italia, which has about 3,000 inhabitants, but we have not been able to fully communicate with the population because we have no phone signal,” said León Fabio Marín Moncada, municipal mayor.
In the Quibdó area, the situation is also bleak.
The San Francisco de Asís Departmental Hospital of Quibdó urgently requested support to supply medicines, medical-surgical supplies, and items required in critical areas.
The emergency has significantly affected hospital infrastructure, its operational capacity, and the availability of critical supplies. In fact, there is talk of an over-occupancy of 245 percent.
The abrupt increase in care demand is due to attending to injured, polytraumatized people with urgent needs caused by the earthquake.
Istmina and Sipí
In Istmina, Chocó, serious structural damage was also reported. Images and videos show collapsed houses, cracked walls, and destroyed facades.
Additionally, streets and roads are open and vehicles destroyed by fallen debris.
According to information from the Istmina mayor’s office, there are 550 affected homes and more than 3,000 displaced people.
In Sipí, Chocó, residents are urgently requesting help after the collapse of several of their homes. In images taken after the earthquake, shops and supermarkets are seen completely destroyed.
Homes built with wood and tiles also collapsed. Additionally, part of the facade of the Police station was also affected.
Fallen walls and roofs of houses are also observed.
(Check here all the articles from EL TIEMPO’s Investigative Unit)
For now, 14 deaths have been reported in the department of Chocó, but this number may increase in the coming hours as search and rescue efforts continue.
INVESTIGATIVE UNIT
u.investigativa@eltiempo.com
@UinvestigativaET
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