Efrain Antonio Rios Garcia of Colombia passes away

We are saddened upon the death of Efrain Antonio Rios Garcia of Itagui, Antioquia Department, Colombia, who passed away on January 11, 2024 at the official age of 113. He may have been the oldest man in the history of Colombia as well as the world’s second-oldest living man.

Efrain Antonio Rios Garcia’s official date of birth was April 4, 1910. He was born in the rural outskirts of Fredonia, located in the Antioquia Department of Colombia. In 1935, he wed Herminia Uribe after several years of courtship. The couple went on to have a large family, consisting of 18 children named Javier, Lilliam, Irma, Hugo, Hector, Irma Ines, Flor, Virgilio, Efrain, German, Luz, Nidia, Saul, Nelson, Martha, Flor, Alvarol, and Ramiro. His elder sibling, Francisco Luis Rios Garcia, who lived from October 1, 1904, to April 29, 2011, passed away at the remarkable age of 106 years and 201 days, establishing them as one of the longest-lived pairs of siblings in recorded history. In April 2013, at the age of 103, Rios Garcia and his spouse Herminia commemorated their 80th wedding anniversary, although the official celebration occurred in 2015. Herminia passed away in 2015 at the age of 100.

In April 2020, Rios Garcia celebrated his 110th birthday. At that time, he boasted an impressive family tree, with 80 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and 18 great-great-grandchildren. He became the oldest known living person in Colombia after the death of Eusebio Quintero Lopez on July 16, 2023.

The Gerontology Research Group received initial documentation supporting the authenticity of Mr. Rios Garcia’s age. The scientific age validation process is ongoing in order to bring his longevity achievement into full recognition.

We extend our sincere condolences to his family, friends and all who knew him. We hope comfort can be found in an extraordinarily long life.