Earthquake of magnitude 7.4 shakes Colombia; 111 dead

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake shook Colombia early on Monday morning, causing at least 111 deaths and significant material damage across several regions of the country. The quake was recorded at 07:34 local time, with its epicentre in San José del Palmar, in the Pacific coast department of Chocó.

The tremor was strongly felt in cities such as Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Medellín, Bogotá, Armenia, and Quibdó, leading to scenes of panic and mass evacuations. Authorities have confirmed at least 111 fatalities, mostly in Pereira and Manizales, though the death toll could rise in the coming hours.

In Cali, one of the cities hardest hit by the earthquake, at least 61 buildings have collapsed. The number of fatalities has been raised to 111, and there are 87 injured. The earthquake has also caused substantial material damage, affecting more than 1,500 homes, dozens of collapsed buildings, and numerous damaged health and educational facilities.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has confirmed that the number of fatalities from the earthquake continues to rise, surpassing 111. Rescue operations are ongoing in the most affected areas, where people may still be trapped under the rubble.

On Monday, the Colombian government declared a state of "national disaster" following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake on the Richter scale. This decision was made during a meeting of the National Committee for Disaster Management, established by President de la Espriella to coordinate the response to the earthquake that affected nine departments.

According to local authorities, 71 people have died in various departments, with Risaralda and Valle del Cauca being the most affected. President de la Espriella has confirmed that the number of fatalities continues to rise, surpassing 111. Rescue operations are ongoing in the most affected areas, where people may still be trapped under the rubble.

The president plans to travel to Chocó and subsequently to Valle del Cauca to oversee the emergency response on the ground. This will be one of the largest natural disasters recorded in the country in recent years. The presidency has confirmed that President de la Espriella will visit the affected regions to assess the situation and coordinate the response. He is scheduled to first visit the department of Chocó, where the epicentre was located, and then proceed to Valle del Cauca. During his tour, he will visit some of the hardest-hit municipalities to evaluate the damage and coordinate the authorities' response.

Following the earthquake, experts recommend extreme caution before returning to buildings that may have sustained damage. Engineer Daniel Ruiz, director of the Engineering PhD programme at Universidad Javeriana, notes that one of the main warning signs is the appearance of significant cracks in beams and columns, especially in the areas of connection.

The earthquake has also caused significant damage to essential infrastructure. In Cali, one of the cities hardest hit, at least 61 buildings have collapsed, and rescue teams are working against the clock to locate people trapped under the rubble. Significant structural damage has also been reported in Quibdó, Pereira, and Manizales, where even one of the towers of the cathedral was affected by the force of the tremor.

Shortly after the main earthquake, two aftershocks of magnitude 4.8 and 4.6 were recorded in the same area of the epicentre, increasing public concern. Additionally, operations at six airports in the country were suspended due to potential structural damage to the terminals.

Images shared on social media show the moment when part of the University Hospital of Cali suffered a structural collapse due to the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia. The scene reflects the immense force of the earthquake and its impact on essential infrastructure in one of the hardest-hit cities.

Despite the intensity of the earthquake, Colombian maritime authorities have ruled out any tsunami risk along the Pacific coast for now, while continuing damage assessments and search operations in the most affected areas.

The earthquake has generated a state of maximum emergency in several regions of the country, and authorities continue to evaluate the extent of the tragedy while emergency teams work in the most devastated areas. The next step will be a comprehensive assessment of the damage and the implementation of reconstruction and recovery measures in the affected areas.

Piece prepared by the newsroom from cross-checked sources in several countries.