OCHA Situation Report
Colombia: Earthquake
24 May 2008


Source:
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs

Situation

The Colombian National System for Disaster Prevention and Response
informed that, on May 24 at 14:20 an earthquake hit the municipality of El
Calvario in the central region of Colombia. The epicenter was located at
10.2 Km from the municipal capital of the El Calvario municipality. The
following table resumes the technical specifications of the seismic
activity:



Latitude: 4.40 DEGREES NORTH
Longitude: 73.79 DEGREES WEST
Depth: Superficial (less than 30 KM)
Magnitude: 5.5 (Richter)


Closest city
Villavicencio 29.6 km, 300,000 inhabitants, approximately


The Colombian National seismologic network recorded further additional
seismic activity:

1. Hour: 3:08 PM l, seismic activity (magnitude 4.5), epicenter located at
9.3 Km of the Municipal capital of San Juanito, Meta department.

2. Hour: 3:08 PM l, seismic activity (magnitude 4.5), epicenter located at
9.3 Km of the Municipal capital of Fomeque, Cundinamarca department.

Impact

The Colombian National System for Disaster Prevention and Response
informed that the earthquake affected 5 municipalities in the department
of Cundinamarca: Quetame, Fosca, Guayabetal, Fomeque, Bogota and El
Calvario in Meta.

The earthquake left a final balance of 6 deaths and 65 people injured.
Approximately 9.000 persons resulted affected by the destruction of their
houses.

The Directorate of Disaster Prevention and Response (DPAD) also confirmed
that in Quetame (Cundinamarca) 660 houses presented different level of
damages, 300 in the urban area and 360 in the rural areas of the same
municipality.

Additionally in the urban area of El Calvario, Meta, 40 urban hoses were
also damaged and 60 houses in the rural area (town of San Francisco).

Response

The Directorate of Disaster Prevention and Response (DAPAE) is
coordinating via the regional committee (CREPAD) the distribution of food
and no-food items for the affected population: 600 mattresses, 600
blankets, 300 hygiene kits, 500 food rations, 15 rolls of plastic
sheeting, mineral water for the affected population in Quetame
municipality. In addition 150 mattresses, 300 blankets, 150 hygiene kits,
150 food rations,15 rolls of plastic sheeting for the municipality of
Guayabetal.

The Family Welfare Institute -ICBF-, is providing food aid for the
affected population.

The Colombian Red Cross has two pre-hospital units available with
operational personnel in Puente Quetame and Guayabetal in order to support
humanitarian efforts and provide assistance to the injured. CRC also,
provided 470 blankets, 34 mattresses and clothing for Quetame and an
electric generator and food aid for Guayabetal.

In addition, the Ministry of Social Protection sent specialized ambulances
from Bogota and put two hospitals in Bogota and Soacha on alert to assist
the emergency; the hospital of Caqueza provided assistance for 27 injured
and one child who died, while the District CRU sent 4 ambulances to Puente
Quetame.

The Colombian Air Force flew over the affected area in Meta and
Cundinamarca and along the Bogota - Villavicencio highway in the Puente
Quetame area in order to support reconnaissance and rescue when necessary.
In addition, provided transportation for DPAD's and ICBF's support
personnel and humanitarian aid from Bogota to the air base of Apiay in
Meta department.

The Unified Firefighter Command of Gacheta post coordinated activities in
Guasca, La Calera and Caqueza and sent two firefighter units from
Villavicencio to the zone, providing water supplies for temporary
shelters.

The Government of Cundinamarca provided portable latrines for temporary
shelters in Puente Quetame.

The National Road Institute - INVIAS - coordinated with the concession of
the Bogota - Villavicencio highway on rehabilitation efforts for local
roads.

The RC/HC and OCHA are maintaining close contacts with Colombian National
System for Disaster Prevention and Response in order to mobilize
resources, if requested.

Attachments:
http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/retrieveattachments?openagent&docide3E4B38F89F5C574925745600042F8E&file=Full_Report.pdf

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