Colombia quake kills over 100, becomes country’s strongest earthquake this century

World
By Breaking News Nigeria
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia early Monday, killing at least 111 people and injuring 87, as rescuers and civilians searched collapsed buildings for survivors.

The quake damaged more than 1,500 buildings across several regions and was felt in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama.

The earthquake struck at about 7:34 am local time near San Jose del Palmar in the Choco region, around 400 km west of the capital Bogota, according to the US Geological Survey.

It occurred at a depth of about 110 km. Colombia’s Geological Service said it was the strongest earthquake recorded in the country in the 21st century.

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Death toll rises

The death toll included at least 40 people in Risaralda, where Pereira is located, and 27 in Valle del Cauca, where Cali is located, including three children.

Authorities also reported nine deaths in Choco, two in Caldas and one in Antioquia. The locations of the remaining deaths were not immediately clear.

President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national emergency and said the government would speed up relief and recovery efforts. He was sworn in only days before the earthquake, making the disaster his first major test as president.

In Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, rescuers and volunteers formed human chains to remove concrete, bricks and other debris from collapsed buildings. Some people trapped under rubble were located after rescuers called for them to make sounds or whistle.

Pereira also reported collapsed buildings, while photos and videos showed part of the airport ceiling falling as travellers sought shelter. Mayor Mauricio Salazar said at least 15 buildings had collapsed in the city and people were feared trapped.

Cities hit hard

Manizales, the capital of Caldas, reported damage to several buildings, including the collapse of a tower of its neo-Gothic cathedral. Roads and pavements were blocked by concrete and debris, while downed power lines and damaged pipes affected some neighbourhoods.

In Quibdo, the capital of Choco, residents reported intense shaking, damaged buildings and power and mobile-data outages. Ten municipalities in Choco remained cut off, according to Governor Nubia Cordoba, making it difficult to assess the full extent of the damage in the remote region.

The earthquake also shook Bogota, prompting residents to leave buildings and gather in the streets. There were no immediate reports of major damage in the capital. Medellin, Colombia’s second-largest city, reported cracks in some buildings but no initial reports of injuries.

Authorities suspended operations at airports in Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Pereira while damage was assessed. Landslides also forced the closure of major roads. Hospitals in five cities were placed on red alert, while a nighttime curfew was imposed in Cali. Upcoming professional football matches were postponed.

Aid pours in

The earthquake struck Colombia’s Pacific region and the central Andes, including parts of the country’s coffee-growing region. Risaralda and Caldas are among the affected areas, and together with other coffee-producing regions they form a key part of Colombia’s coffee industry. The impact on production was not immediately known.

Colombia lies along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of major seismic activity. The country has experienced destructive earthquakes before, including the 1999 Armenia earthquake, which killed more than 1,100 people.

The latest disaster came less than two months after two powerful earthquakes struck neighbouring Venezuela, killing more than 6,300 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless.

Colombians have used social media and online databases to search for missing relatives. One database, Colombia Te Busca, had listed more than 2,000 missing people, mainly from Cali and Pereira.

International assistance has also been offered. The United States announced $15.5 million in emergency aid for shelter, food and other relief measures. The European Union activated its Copernicus satellite service to support rescue operations, while Mexico, El Salvador, Chile, Ecuador, Israel and France also offered assistance.

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