A powerful earthquake struck western Colombia early Monday, killing at least 111 people and injuring 87 others, prompting President Abelardo de la Espriella to declare a nationwide state of emergency.
4:52 PM
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia early Monday morning, triggering widespread damage across the country and prompting authorities to declare a national state of emergency.
The earthquake occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time with its epicenter near San José del Palmar in Chocó Department on Colombia's Pacific coast, at a depth of approximately 82 to 96 kilometers. The Colombian Geological Service initially estimated the magnitude at 6.6, while the U.S. Geological Survey measured it at 7.4.
President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office three days prior in Cali, confirmed that at least 111 people had been killed and 87 injured as of 12:30 p.m. local time. The death toll was distributed across multiple regions, with Risaralda Department reporting 40 deaths, Valle del Cauca 27 deaths, and Chocó 4 deaths. Twenty-nine of the confirmed deaths occurred in capital cities.
Structural damage was extensive. As of the afternoon, authorities reported 1,575 homes damaged, 37 completely destroyed, and 61 buildings collapsed. The cities of Pereira, Cali, Manizales, Quibdó, and Armenia experienced the most critical conditions, with multiple casualties, injured persons, and people trapped in collapsed structures. Infrastructure damage included hospitals, airports, public services, and transportation systems.
The tremor was felt across a wide geographic area, including Ecuador and Panama, where buildings and hospitals were evacuated in the capital and other eastern locations. In Bogotá, some buildings were evacuated as a precaution.
President de la Espriella announced the establishment of a unified command post to coordinate response efforts and stated he would travel to Pereira, one of the hardest-hit cities, to accompany those affected. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) supported the emergency declaration at an extraordinary disaster committee meeting led by the president.
Rescue teams worked to locate and free residents trapped in collapsed buildings across affected areas. The government declared the situation a "national disaster" and mobilized emergency response resources nationwide.
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