At Least 20 Dead After 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Colombia

At least 20 people have died after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, causing buildings to collapse, trapping residents and forcing the temporary closure of six airports. The earthquake struck near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, around 400 kilometres west of the capital, Bogotá, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS) and Colombian authorities. The USGS said the earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 107 kilometres. The powerful tremor was felt across large parts of western Colombia and neighbouring Ecuador, prompting residents to f

At least 20 people have died after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, causing buildings to collapse, trapping residents and forcing the temporary closure of six airports. The earthquake struck near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, around 400 kilometres west of the capital, Bogotá, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS) and Colombian authorities. The USGS said the earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 107 kilometres. The powerful tremor was felt across large parts of western Colombia and neighbouring Ecuador, prompting residents to flee homes and other buildings as emergency teams began searching for survivors. Authorities said the death toll had risen to at least 20 people. In Pereira, 18 people were reported killed, with others believed to be trapped inside collapsed buildings, according to the city's mayor, Mauricio Salazar. Two additional deaths were reported in Manizales, where Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas said more than 12 buildings and 20 homes had been partially or completely destroyed. Rojas warned residents to remain outside because of the risk of aftershocks, urging them not to return to damaged buildings until they had been declared safe. The earthquake caused significant damage in Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, where at least 20 buildings collapsed, according to Mayor Alejandro Eder. Some residents were reportedly trapped inside the damaged structures, prompting the city to request additional rescue teams from Bogotá and Medellín. Eder urged residents to remain calm and inspect their homes for signs of structural damage, warning those who saw major cracks or felt unsafe to leave their buildings. Residents described scenes of panic as the earthquake struck. Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver in Cali, said he saw clouds of dust rising across the city as buildings collapsed. “My entire house shook,” he said, describing the earthquake as the most powerful he had ever experienced. Footage shared by local media showed homes and smaller buildings collapsing in Pereira, Cali and Quibdó. In Manizales, part of the city's neo-Gothic cathedral was also damaged, with one of its towers collapsing onto the nave. The Chocó regional government reported injuries and serious damage to buildings in the region's capital, although officials had not immediately provided a full assessment of the casualties. Colombia's civil aviation authority announced that six airports had suspended operations after suffering damage. The affected airports serve Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura. Colombian authorities have urged residents to remain alert for possible aftershocks and avoid entering buildings that may have suffered structural damage. President Abelardo de la Espriella said he would personally oversee the government's response and announced plans for an emergency coordination centre in San José del Palmar. Emergency services and rescue teams were continuing to assess the extent of the destruction and search collapsed structures for people who may still be trapped. Earthquakes are relatively common in central and western Colombia, although powerful tremors above magnitude 6 are less frequent. A 6.2-magnitude earthquake near Armenia in 1999 killed more than 1,100 people. Monday's earthquake has renewed concerns over the vulnerability of buildings and infrastructure in some of the country's most earthquake-prone regions. Rescue and recovery operations are continuing as authorities work to establish the full scale of the damage and casualty figures.