Colombia has declared a 30-day economic, social and ecological emergency in 15
earthquake-hit provinces, including Valle del Cauca, Risaralda and Caldas, the
government said on the 19th. The decree, signed after a cabinet meeting in
Bogotá, aims to speed housing reconstruction and restore commercial activity and
public infrastructure such as schools and hospitals. The president said Colombia
faces its "most complex" fiscal situation and the government will cut some of
the previous administration's "non-priority" spending to fund recovery efforts.
