Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has estimated that the recent earthquake which struck the country could lead to damages amounting to approximately $9.6 billion, according to initial assessments.

In a video message released late Monday, local time, de la Espriella detailed the financial impact of the disaster. He stated that damages to buildings are estimated at 24.5 trillion pesos, while infrastructure losses are roughly 5.5 trillion pesos. These figures were compiled by a private company assessing the situation.

The president highlighted the extensive destruction caused by the quake, noting that around 27,000 homes were completely destroyed and more than 120,000 others suffered damage. "Imagine the scale of this calamity," de la Espriella remarked during his address.

According to preliminary statistics shared by the president, the earthquake, which occurred on August 10 with a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale, resulted in 289 fatalities. Rescue operations are still ongoing, with efforts focused on retrieving bodies from beneath the rubble.

An Israeli rescue team has reported finding three bodies in the city of Cali. President de la Espriella also mentioned that over 4,000 individuals have been injured in the disaster, and there are still 143 people unaccounted for.