Lee offers condolences to victims of deadly earthquake in Columbia

SEOUL, August 12 (AJP) - President Lee Jae Myung mourned the victims of a strong earthquake in Colombia earlier this week and expressed hope that the missing would still be found safe.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, on Monday, Lee said he was saddened by the devastating damage caused by a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia, killing more than 100 people and damaging hundreds of buildings.

He offered condolences to Colombians who lost family members and neighbors in the sudden disaster and wrote, "May all the victims rest in peace."'
  With search and rescue operations underway, Lee said he hoped "even one more person" would be rescued safely and reunited with their family, adding that South Koreans stand with the Colombian people in hoping for a swift return to normal life.

The strong quake struck in the South American country's coastal province of Chocó on Monday, with tremors felt in western cities including its capital and largest city of Bogotá as well as Cali, Manizales, Pereira and Quibdó.

The Foreign Ministry here said no South Korean casualties have been reported so far.