Colombia president puts preliminary earthquake losses at $9.6 billion

The economic losses from a powerful earthquake that ‌struck Colombia last week are expected to reach 30 trillion pesos ($9.58 billion), Reuters reported citing Colombia's President Abelardo De La Espriella.

De ​La Espriella said the impact included roughly ​24.5 trillion pesos in buildings and 5.5 trillion ⁠pesos in infrastructure.

"Just imagine the scale of the disaster," ​Reuters quoted De La Espriella as saying, noting that the figures were ​likely to change. "This is a preliminary figure that will be adjusted as we obtain more information and as the damage caused ​by this earthquake is assessed in each of the ​regions."

The 7.4-magnitude quake toppled buildings in various parts of western Colombia, ‌including ⁠the major cities of Cali and Pereira, killing 280 people, injuring more than 4,000, and leaving another 143 people missing.

By comparison, the earthquakes that struck neighboring Venezuela ​on June ​24 caused damage ⁠to housing and infrastructure estimated at $37 billion, according to an initial assessment by ​the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk ​Reduction published ⁠last month.

The Colombia quake is the first major crisis facing De La Espriella, who took office just days ⁠before ​and now must oversee relief and ​reconstruction efforts.