The president of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, announced this Wednesday the declaration of three days of national mourning in memory of the victims of the earthquake of magnitude 7.4 on the Richter scale recorded on Monday, which has caused at least 188 deaths and more than 1,600 injured people.
"Let it be decreed, in honor of all the deceased, national mourning for the term of three days throughout the national territory, during which the National Flag will be flown at half-mast on all public buildings in the country and the embassies and consular offices of Colombia abroad," states the decree published by the Colombian Presidency.
The official text adds that "the national government, on behalf of the Colombian people, expresses its deep sorrow for the death of the people who lost their lives due to the seismic movement that occurred on August 10, 2026, in the national territory, and stands in solidarity with the mourning of the families and friends of these people."
The decision comes after the head of state previously signed another decree declaring the "national disaster" and activated the economic emergency to address the aftermath of Monday's earthquake, whose epicenter was located in San José del Palmar.