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Dominican Republic Offers Support After Deadly Colombia Earthquake
President Luis Abinader expressed solidarity with Colombia after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the country’s western region, while the Dominican Republic considers sending specialized search-and-rescue personnel to assist with the emergency response.
President Luis Abinader expressed the Dominican Republic’s solidarity with Colombia following the powerful earthquake that struck the South American country on Monday, August 10, as rescue operations continued in areas affected by collapsed buildings and widespread infrastructure damage.
Abinader said the Dominican Republic was prepared to provide support if needed, extending condolences to those killed, their families and communities affected by the disaster. The statement reflects the country’s recent participation in regional humanitarian response efforts following major natural disasters.
“On behalf of the Dominican people, I express our deepest solidarity with Colombia in the wake of the earthquake that has impacted various regions of the country,” Abinader said in a message published on his social media accounts.
The president added that the Dominican Republic remained ready to provide assistance to Colombia as authorities assessed the scale of the emergency and continued searching for survivors.
Dominican Rescue Team Could Join Response
The Dominican government is considering the deployment of a specialized search-and-rescue team, including trained canine units and personnel equipped to operate in collapsed structures. The information available at the time of the announcement did not establish that a new international deployment had been formally confirmed.
The possible mission comes shortly after Dominican rescue personnel returned from Venezuela, where they participated in an international humanitarian response following the earthquakes that struck that country in June. That operation included specialized search-and-rescue capabilities and reflected the Dominican Republic’s growing involvement in regional disaster response.
The potential deployment to Colombia would therefore build on recently established operational experience rather than represent an entirely new type of international humanitarian assistance for the Dominican Republic.
Colombia Earthquake Causes Widespread Damage
The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck at approximately 7:34 a.m. local time on Monday, with its epicenter near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó in western Colombia. Strong shaking was reported across a broad area, including Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Armenia and Bogotá.
Early reports indicated significant damage to buildings and transportation infrastructure. Several airports were affected, while emergency crews continued searching damaged structures for people who might remain trapped.
Initial Colombian government figures cited in the information provided put the death toll at 111, with 87 people injured. The toll was still subject to change as rescue teams reached additional affected areas and authorities continued assessing the damage.
Colombian authorities declared a state of national disaster and established emergency coordination posts to organize search, rescue and relief operations. The Colombian Geological Service has continued monitoring seismic activity and the possibility of aftershocks.
No Dominican Casualties Reported
The Dominican ambassador in Colombia said there had been no report of a Dominican citizen affected by the earthquake at the time of the initial assessment. Dominican diplomatic authorities were continuing to monitor the situation as emergency operations progressed.
For the Dominican Republic, the response also carries a diplomatic and humanitarian dimension. The country has maintained close regional ties and has recently used its emergency-response capabilities to assist neighboring nations after major disasters, including the deployment of specialized personnel and equipment to Venezuela.
As Colombian authorities continue rescue and damage-assessment operations, any Dominican deployment will depend on the needs identified by Colombia and decisions by the Dominican government. The immediate priority remains locating survivors and supporting communities affected by the earthquake.
