The Presidency of Colombia today decreed three days of national mourning for the victims of the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck the country last Monday, which official reports state has claimed at least 190 lives.

In response to the disaster, which has also left 1,679 people injured, President Abelardo de la Espriella formalized a declaration of national emergency—a regulatory mechanism that enables the sitting president to enact measures without requiring prior congressional approval.

Among the additional measures announced by the government is a two-month extension for filing and paying income taxes for taxpayers in the most severely affected municipalities, specifically Cali, Palmira, Tuluá, Buenaventura, Pereira, Armenia, Manizales, Quibdó, and Popayán.

Authorities also announced a rental subsidy for affected families and relief on utility bill payments over the next three months.

Search and rescue operations in Colombia enter their third consecutive day today.

The National Army reported that more than 30 specialized soldiers from the Engineers Battalion arrived in Cali from Bogotá to assist in emergency response efforts in the city. Equipped with K-9 units, thermal-capable drones, and specialized equipment, they join ongoing search, rescue, and relief operations for residents of the Valle del Cauca department. Civil society organizations have likewise mobilized aid networks, establishing collection points for essential goods to assist those who lost everything in the disaster.

According to the Association of Capital Cities, the earthquake caused the collapse of 243 structures: 92 in Pereira, 69 in Armenia, 56 in Cali, 17 in Manizales, and 9 in Quibdó.

The association emphasized that the damage extends beyond residential housing, citing severe impacts on educational centers, hospitals, road infrastructure, airports, water supply networks, power and telecommunication grids, mass transit systems, and heritage sites.

According to the Special Administrative Unit of Civil Aeronautics, most airports across the country are operating normally, with the exception of Matecaña Airport in Pereira and Santa Ana Airport in Cartago, which face operational restrictions. The Guillermo León Valencia Airport in Popayán remains closed due to ash emissions from the Puracé volcano.

Government officials, including Vice President José Manuel Restrepo, reported that international humanitarian aid is scheduled to begin arriving shortly.