International Desk:
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western and central Colombia on Monday morning, leaving at least 111 people dead and hundreds more trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings. With search and rescue operations underway, emergency officials warn that the casualty count is expected to rise significantly. In response to the crisis, the government has officially declared a state of national disaster.
According to the Colombian Geological Service, the deep-seated quake struck at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT) at a depth of 103 kilometers. The epicenter was pinpointed near the town of San José del Palmar in the Chocó province. Despite severe road damage isolating the town, local authorities miraculously reported no immediate fatalities within the epicenter’s immediate vicinity.
The heaviest destruction occurred approximately 35 miles from the epicenter in Pereira, a major hub in Colombia’s coffee-growing district. Dozens of structures collapsed around the city’s central Bolívar Plaza, sending clouds of dust over panicked crowds.
Local municipality reports confirm at least 40 fatalities in Pereira’s metropolitan area, with 65 buildings completely leveled. Emergency crews are currently focusing efforts on 15 sites where survivors are believed to be buried. To maintain public order and prevent looting, local authorities have imposed an overnight curfew across several city districts.
Major structural damage was also reported in Cali, where at least 32 buildings collapsed. Additional casualties and widespread destruction have been confirmed in Manizales, Quibdó, Medellín, and across the broader Valle del Cauca region.
The tremors were felt hundreds of miles away, shaking high-rises and traffic infrastructure in the capital, Bogotá, though no critical utility failures were immediately reported there. Neighboring countries—including Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela—also reported noticeable shocks.
Colombia’s civil aviation authority confirmed structural damage at multiple regional airports, interrupting air traffic in cities such as Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, and Quibdó.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a national disaster, granting the executive branch emergency powers to reallocate state funds and expedite relief operations. Initial estimates indicate that over 1,500 homes have sustained severe damage or total destruction.
International leaders have moved quickly to pledge assistance. The European Union has activated its Copernicus satellite mapping system to assist search teams, while the United States and El Salvador have offered specialized personnel and technical equipment to support the ongoing rescue mission.