A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 132 people and injuring more than 480 others as rescuers race against time to find survivors trapped in the rubble of collapsed buildings. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national disaster situation just days after assuming office.
Hundreds Feared Trapped as Buildings Collapse
The earthquake, which struck at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT) at a depth of 103 kilometers in Chocó province, was felt across an enormous area spanning hundreds of miles . The epicenter was near the village of San José del Palmar, but the city of Pereira, located in Colombia’s coffee-growing region, suffered some of the worst destruction. Local authorities have reported at least 40 deaths in Pereira’s metropolitan area, with 65 buildings collapsed and people believed trapped in 15 of them .
A curfew is in place in parts of the city until 05:00 local time on Tuesday as rescue efforts continue.
Cities Across Region Hit Hard
In Cali, located approximately 160 kilometers south of Pereira, 32 buildings collapsed . Witnesses described scenes of chaos and terror as the ground shook violently.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it,” Dan Cutler, a 29-year-old British tourist currently in Cali, told the BBC. “We sprinted outside in our pyjamas. There’s no major structural damage to the hotel, but there are surface cracks in the walls, and paint and plaster have peeled off” .
Deaths were also reported in Manizales, Quibdó, Medellín, and across the Chocó and Valle del Cauca regions . In Manizales, at least two people died. Angélica Ávila, who was staying in a hotel there, described the terrifying moment the earthquake hit: “Everyone was screaming… I saw dust coming out of the neighbouring buildings, and bricks were falling off the walls” .
Strict Building Codes May Have Saved Lives
Journalist and meteorologist Luis Felipe Molina, who was in Manizales about 150 kilometers from the epicenter, noted that the city’s strict seismic-resistant building regulations prevented more extensive damage. “I have 450 books and only a few were left standing on the shelves. You could hear glass breaking and people screaming. It was a terrible and terrifying experience,” he told BBC Mundo .
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Infrastructure Damage and International Response
The country’s aviation authority reported damage at several regional airports, including those in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura . In the capital Bogotá, trees and traffic lights shook violently, with reports of cracks in buildings but no serious infrastructure damage reported so far. Tremors were felt as far away as neighboring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama .
The earthquake comes less than two months after twin quakes devastated northern Venezuela, killing more than 6,300 people .
World leaders have offered support. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was “closely monitoring” the situation and stood “ready to support,” while EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said the EU’s Copernicus satellite system is being used in rescue operations . El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele also offered personnel and equipment for rescue efforts .
President de la Espriella, who took office on Friday, confirmed that more than 1,500 homes have been damaged. The national disaster declaration grants him special powers to reallocate budgets and coordinate emergency response .
According to the US Geological Survey, an estimated 1.5 million people felt shaking close to magnitude seven. While deep earthquakes like this one are generally less dangerous than shallow quakes, they can still release energy in ways that cause significant building damage, with fewer but potentially stronger aftershocks expected .
