The Government of Abelardo de la Espriella announced that it will submit a request to the Interparliamentary Commission for Public Credit to expand its credit line with the World Bank. The additional resources will strengthen the response to the emergency caused by the 10 August earthquake.
Finance Minister Miguel Gómez explained that managing the resources requires participation from different bodies. During a meeting with the Congressional economic committees, the Executive requested that the Interparliamentary Commission for Public Credit be convened to process the expansion of the World Bank credit line.
The World Bank made an initial disbursement of US$200 million on 13 August, three days after the earthquake whose epicentre was San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. The Government is attempting to expand that financing by a further US$250 million, which would bring the total amount used for the emergency to US$450 million.
The resources come from the Disaster Risk Management Development Policy Loan with Deferred Disbursement Option for Catastrophes, known as Cat DDO. This modality was announced for Colombia in February 2025 and is designed to disburse resources when emergencies occur that require financing to address disasters. The credit would have a repayment period of 20 years, with a five-year grace period, and payments would begin on a semi-annual basis in March 2030.
According to the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (Ungrd), as of 18 August at 6:30 a.m., the magnitude 7.4 earthquake has affected 15 departments and 472 municipalities. The report records 304 people dead, 4,548 injured and 426 missing, whilst 356 people have been rescued. A total of 123,789 families and 292,043 people are affected.
Damage includes 134,342 damaged homes and 29,554 completely destroyed, as well as 5,808 damaged buildings and 267 that collapsed. Damaged infrastructure comprises 303 health centres, 3,443 educational centres, 3,905 community centres, 413 roads, five airports, 86 water systems, 49 vehicular bridges and 13 pedestrian bridges. Also reported are 1,323 animals affected and 496 rescued. The Ungrd noted that this data is preliminary and is being consolidated.
