A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia early Monday, killing at least 77 people and leaving widespread destruction across several cities. Buildings collapsed, residents were trapped under rubble and thousands were forced to evacuate as authorities began a large-scale rescue and emergency response.
The earthquake struck at around 7:34am local time, with its epicentre near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department on Colombia’s Pacific side. According to the US Geological Survey, the quake occurred at a depth of around 107 kilometres and was felt across large parts of the country, including Bogotá. Tremors were also reported in neighbouring Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.
Colombia’s geological authorities described it as the strongest earthquake to hit the country in roughly a decade. The scale of the damage, however, has continued to become clearer as emergency teams reach affected areas and communications are restored.
At Least 77 People Killed As Buildings Collapse
The death toll has risen sharply throughout the day, with at least 77 people now confirmed dead. Risaralda has reported the highest number of casualties, with 42 deaths, while other fatalities have been recorded in areas including Valle del Cauca, Manizales and Buenaventura.
Pereira, one of the worst-hit cities, reported 18 deaths. Buildings were damaged or brought down across the city, while footage from the area showed residents and rescue workers moving through streets filled with debris.
In Manizales, part of a historic Gothic-style cathedral was damaged when one of its towers collapsed. At least three people were reported killed in the city.
Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, has also suffered major damage. Officials said dozens of structures collapsed, with people still believed to be trapped inside some of them. Rescue teams have already pulled survivors from the rubble, including an elderly woman and a young girl, while searches continue at multiple locations.
The destruction has also disrupted transport. Six airports in western Colombia suspended operations while authorities inspected runways, terminals and other infrastructure for structural damage.
The earthquake was followed by smaller tremors, raising concerns about aftershocks and further collapses in buildings that may already have been weakened.
Rescue Teams Search For Survivors
The immediate priority for authorities is finding people who remain trapped and getting medical help to those injured.
Residents have joined emergency workers in searching through damaged buildings, while specialist disaster teams are being mobilised to the hardest-hit areas. Cali has requested additional rescue personnel from Bogotá and Medellín as emergency services work through multiple critical sites.
Hospitals have also been affected by the disruption. In Cali, patients were moved outside buildings as a precaution, while emergency workers dealt with the influx of people needing treatment.
The earthquake has also created concerns beyond immediate injuries. Large-scale displacement can leave people without access to medicine, clean water, food and shelter, while damaged buildings and unstable structures create additional risks for both residents and rescuers.
International humanitarian organisations are monitoring the situation as the scale of medical and relief needs becomes clearer. Direct Relief, which has previously provided more than $27 million in medical assistance to health organisations in Colombia since 2015, said it was assessing requests for emergency medical supplies. Its stockpiles include wound-care materials, surgical supplies, antibiotics and equipment for first responders.
Government Takes Control Of Emergency Response
The earthquake comes only days after Colombia’s newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella took office, making the disaster his administration’s first major national emergency.
The president said he had taken personal charge of the government’s response and suspended his planned activities to coordinate the emergency from Bogotá. Authorities have been working with local governments and emergency services to assess damage, organise rescue operations and reach communities in the affected regions.
Cali has called for additional disaster-response teams from Bogotá and Medellín, while officials in Chocó have been assessing injuries and structural damage around the epicentre.
Authorities have also been warning residents to remain cautious because of the possibility of aftershocks. People have been advised to stay away from damaged structures and to evacuate buildings where there are signs of instability.
There was no tsunami threat following the earthquake, according to the US tsunami warning system, but the government remains on alert as assessments continue.
Colombia Faces A Long Road To Recovery
Colombia is no stranger to earthquakes, particularly in its mountainous regions. The country sits along an active seismic zone, and previous disasters have shown how quickly an earthquake can turn into a wider humanitarian crisis.
The 1999 Armenia earthquake, which measured 6.2, killed more than 1,000 people and devastated parts of the country’s coffee-growing region. The latest disaster has once again placed cities such as Pereira and Manizales at the centre of a major rescue and recovery effort.
The timing has also added to regional anxiety. Colombia’s earthquake comes weeks after devastating earthquakes struck neighbouring Venezuela, killing thousands and destroying large numbers of buildings.
For Colombia, the immediate focus remains on those still trapped, treating the injured and providing shelter to people who cannot safely return home. Once the rescue phase ends, authorities will face the much longer task of assessing damaged infrastructure, helping displaced families and rebuilding affected communities.
With rescue operations still underway, the final scale of the disaster is not yet known.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Sources: Dawn, Direct Relief, Arab News, CNBC
