Colombia Earthquake Leaves at Least 111 Dead as Rescue Operations Intensify.
Bogotá:
At least 111 people have been killed after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, triggering widespread destruction and prompting authorities to declare a national disaster situation. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams search collapsed buildings for survivors.
The earthquake struck at 7:34 local time at a depth of about 103 kilometres, according to Colombia’s geological authorities. The epicentre was located near San José del Palmar in Chocó province, although the town itself reportedly escaped fatalities despite damaged roads
Pereira, around 55 kilometres from the epicentre, was among the worst-affected areas. Authorities reported at least 40 deaths in the metropolitan area, with 65 buildings collapsing and people feared trapped inside 15 structures. Footage from the city showed debris scattered across Plaza Bolívar following a building collapse.
Cali also suffered significant damage, with 32 buildings reported to have collapsed. Fatalities were additionally reported in Manizales and other parts of Chocó and Valle del Cauca.
Residents described scenes of panic as buildings shook, walls cracked and glass shattered. Airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura also sustained damage, disrupting regional connectivity.
The earthquake was felt across a vast area, including Bogotá, where buildings and traffic infrastructure shook. Tremors were also reported in neighbouring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.
Authorities said more than 1,500 homes had been damaged as emergency crews continued rescue and assessment operations. International offers of assistance followed, with the United States, European Union and several regional governments expressing solidarity and readiness to help.
The US Geological Survey estimated that around 1.5 million people experienced strong shaking. Officials warned that further aftershocks could complicate rescue efforts as emergency teams continue searching damaged structures and assessing the full scale of the disaster.
