- A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people and damaging hundreds of buildings while leaving many trapped under debris.
- The epicenter was located in San Jose Del Palmar, a community in the Choco region about 250 miles (400 kilometers) west of Bogota.
- Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella declared an emergency to expedite funding for recovery efforts and pledged to visit the disaster zone.
- The Colombia's Geological Service reported that this quake was the strongest recorded in the 21st century and was followed by 21 aftershocks.
- Rescue teams and civilians are actively searching through rubble in cities like Cali, where many people are reported missing.
- The U.S. State Department announced it would provide $15.5 million for emergency shelter, food, and other earthquake response aid.
- The earthquake ravaged cities across western Colombia, including Pereira, Quibdo, and Manizales, and was felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama.
- Local authorities reported that the death toll included at least 40 people in the Risaralda region and 27 people in the Valle del Cauca region.
- In Pereira, photos and videos showed pieces of the airport ceiling falling down on travelers during the quake.
- The town closest to the earthquake's epicenter, San Jose del Palmar, has no airport and is located on a mountain ridge.
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, resulting in at least 111 fatalities and injuring 87 others. The quake, centered in San Jose Del Palmar, caused significant destruction, damaging around 1,600 buildings, with at least 61 completely collapsed.2
Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency to expedite recovery efforts and pledged to visit the affected areas. The earthquake, described as the strongest in the country this century, was followed by 21 aftershocks, complicating rescue operations. Local authorities reported that the death toll included 40 in Risaralda, 27 in Valle del Cauca, and additional casualties in Choco, Caldas, and Antioquia regions.34
Rescue efforts are ongoing, with Pereira's mayor stating that at least 15 buildings have collapsed, trapping individuals inside. The U.S. State Department announced $15.5 million in aid for emergency shelter and food. Regional leaders, including El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele and Chilean President José Antonio Kast, have offered assistance, highlighting the solidarity in the face of natural disasters.78
The quake was felt as far away as Ecuador and Panama, underscoring its intensity and impact across borders.
“The quake, the strongest in Colombia in the 21st century, was centered in San Jose Del Palmar, a remote town of about 4,800 people, and was felt in Ecuador and Panama. President de la Espriella declared an emergency, while the U.S. pledged $15.5 million in aid.”
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