Death Toll Rises to 132 as 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Devastates Western Colombia

Earthquake Devastates Western Colombia

Death Toll Rises to 132 as 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Devastates Western Colombia

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday has claimed at least 132 lives, with more than 570 people injured, according to the latest update from the Colombian government. Newly sworn-in President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a state of national disaster as rescue teams race against time to locate survivors trapped under collapsed buildings across multiple cities. The quake, which struck at 7:34 a.m. local time, had its epicentre near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó, approximately 400 kilometres west of the capital, Bogotá. The Colombian Geological Service reported a depth of 96 kilometres, while the US Geological Survey placed it at 107 kilometres. The tremor was felt as far away as Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela, prompting building evacuations across the region.

President Espriella, who assumed office just three days before the disaster, has directly assumed leadership of the emergency response in San José del Palmar. In a message to the nation, he stated: “I have ordered the installation of a Unified Command Post to coordinate the attention to damages and those affected. I will personally be in Pereira to accompany those affected and verify the government’s response. You are not alone. The State is present and acting.” The government has mobilised the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD) to assess the situation and coordinate relief efforts.

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The preliminary government assessment paints a grim picture of the devastation, with the coffee-growing region of Risaralda recording the highest death toll at 42 fatalities. The full extent of the destruction includes at least 61 buildings collapsed and over 1,500 homes damaged, 18 health centres, 52 schools and 17 community centres damaged, 18 roads affected by the tremor, and operations suspended at seven airports, including Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura, pending structural inspections.

The city of Pereira has been one of the hardest-hit areas, with officials describing “serious damage to some buildings” and “shocking images of people injured and building facades collapsed.” In Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, at least 20 buildings have collapsed, with people trapped inside. Mayor Alejandro Eder has requested support from rescue workers in Bogotá and Medellín, urging citizens to remain calm and check for structural damage at their homes. The mayor of Manizales reported significant damage, including the clock tower of the Cathedral Basilica now slumped at a dangerous angle.

The earthquake, described as the strongest recorded in Colombia in the last decade by the Colombian Geological Service, has been followed by at least two aftershocks with magnitudes of 2.8 and 4.8. The US Geological Survey reported that approximately 1.5 million people experienced “very strong” shakes severe enough to cause damage to unreinforced masonry buildings.

The United States has announced it will commit $15.5 million in emergency funding to Colombia to provide shelter, food, protection, and earthquake assessments for victims. “We are united in prayer with the Colombian people and stand ready to support President Abelardo de la Espriella and his government as they assess the needs on the ground,” the US State Department stated. The department is also actively assisting American citizens affected by the earthquake. The European Union has offered support through its Copernicus satellite system, with EU chief Ursula von der Leyen stating, “Europe’s heart is with the people of Colombia.” The Chinese Embassy in Colombia has confirmed that, as of the latest reports, no Chinese nationals were among the casualties.

Rescue efforts continue as authorities work to reach isolated communities and provide assistance to thousands displaced by the disaster. Vice-President José Manuel Restrepo Abondano has pledged that the government “will not rest until that aid reaches every family that needs it and contributes to the recovery of the affected territories.”