Colombia president says early quake losses amount to $9.6 billion

COLOMBIA (REUTERS)

Colombia's President Abelardo De La Espriella ​said on Monday that preliminary estimates put ⁠the economic losses from the ​country's recent ​earthquake ‌at 30 trillion ⁠pesos ($9.58 ​billion).

The 7.4-magnitude quake caused severe damage in western Colombia ‌from the Pacific port ‌of Buenaventura to the country's coffee-growing region ​and major western cities, including Cali and Pereira.

The disaster is the ‌first major crisis ​facing De La Espriella, who took office just days ​before ‌the ⁠quake ‌and ‌now must oversee relief and ⁠reconstruction efforts.