Colombia earthquake leaves at least 47 dead and buildings collapsed
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, causing at least 47 deaths, collapsing buildings, and prompting widespread emergency responses.
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, leaving at least 47 people dead, trapping residents under the rubble of collapsed buildings, and triggering widespread evacuations. The tremor hit at 7:34 a.m. Local time, with its epicenter located in San José del Palmar, a community in the Chocó province hit by 7.4 quake, injuries and building damage reported, according to the Colombian Geological Service and the U.S. Geological Survey. The seismic event occurred at a depth of roughly 66 miles.
The tremor was widely felt across the Andean nation and neighboring countries including Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela, with Yahoo News — 47 dead and buildings collapsed after 7.4-magnitude earthquake shakes western Colombia reporting that it was the highest magnitude earthquake registered in Colombia in the last decade. The Colombian Geological Service attributed the activity to natural tectonic dynamics associated with the subduction of the Nazca Plate beneath the South American Plate.
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Cities across western Colombia suffered severe devastation. In Pereira, mayor Mauricio Salazar confirmed that at least 18 people had died, with fatalities including three individuals killed at the city's Matecaña Airport when parts of the ceiling collapsed on sheltering travelers. In the coffee-producing mountain city of Manizales, mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas confirmed additional deaths, noting that a tower of the neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed onto the nave. Meanwhile, in the Valle del Cauca department and its major city Cali, mayor Alejandro Eder reported dozens of collapsed structures and trapped residents, while the governor noted that at least three of the dead in the department were children. Additional casualties and building damage were reported in Buenaventura and the Chocó capital of Quibdó.
Residents described terrifying scenes as homes shook violently. Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver in Cali, stated, My entire house shook. I've never lived through such a powerful earthquake,
as reported by Mirror — Colombia earthquake live: At least 47 dead in 7.4 magnitude tremor as houses crumble.
In the capital city of Bogotá, located roughly 250 miles from the epicenter, residents evacuated homes and office buildings. Bogotá mayor Carlos Galán confirmed that an initial sweep of the city showed no significant structural damage, only minor non-structural cracks. However, the disaster prompted the suspension of flight operations at multiple airports, including Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) confirmed that there was no tsunami threat to the Colombian Pacific coast.
President Abelardo de la Espriella announced he was personally taking charge of the government response in San José del Palmar.
International leaders also responded, with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stating that the U.S. Administration was monitoring the situation and stands ready to support the people of Colombia and President Abelardo De La Espriella's administration."You are not alone. The state is present and taking action,"
Abelardo de la Espriella, President of Colombia, via Yahoo News
What to watch next
- Emergency response teams and local residents continue searching through rubble for survivors amid ongoing concerns regarding potential aftershocks.
- Authorities are conducting damage assessments across more than 20 affected municipalities to issue official casualty and structural reports.
- The Civil Aeronautics Authority and local officials will determine when it is safe to resume operations at the six grounded airports.
For ongoing international updates, visit our main World coverage section.
