BOGOTA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll from the recent magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia has risen to 312, with 4,611 people injured and 290 missing, according to local authorities on Tuesday.
The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management reported that the quake had affected 470 municipalities in 15 departments, adding that 277 buildings had collapsed, while close to 30,000 homes were destroyed and over 134,000 others damaged.
National and international search-and-rescue teams continued combing through the rubble to locate the missing people, with 358 people reportedly rescued so far.
Colombia's Foreign Ministry said more than 220 tons of humanitarian aid had arrived in the country and 144 international specialists had joined emergency response efforts.
Many affected residents remained in temporary shelters and tents in parks in the hardest-hit areas of Valle del Cauca, Risaralda and Choco. ■
