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.