Earthquake-Affected Families Climb to 293,743 as Missing Count Falls to 136

UNGRD's September 3 situation report (6:30 a.m. cutoff) held the confirmed death toll from the August 10 Chocó earthquake steady at 331, with 4,519 injured, while the missing-persons count continued to fall — down to 136 from 240 in late August — as forensic identification and family reunification efforts proceeded. Separately, the number of affected persons climbed to 466,606 and affected families to 293,743, an 81.8% increase in reported victims between August 18 and 31 as municipalities like Cali, Pereira and Manizales continued registering claims. Analysts at San Buenaventura University noted many middle-class and previously self-sufficient households were avoiding formal aid registration out of stigma, raising the risk that some are turning to predatory 'gota a gota' lenders instead of state assistance.