Earthquake of magnitude 7.4 shakes Colombia, leaves 111 dead

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake shook central and western Colombia on Monday, leaving at least 111 dead and 87 injured. The epicentre of the quake was located in San José del Palmar, Chocó, causing severe damage to infrastructure.

The earthquake struck at 07:34 local time (14:34 Spanish mainland time), with its epicentre in the town of San José del Palmar, in the Pacific coast department of Chocó, at a depth of 82 kilometres.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella confirmed that there were 111 fatalities and 87 injuries. Additionally, 1,575 homes have been affected, 37 completely destroyed, 61 buildings collapsed, 18 health centres, 52 educational institutions, and 17 community centres damaged. Six airports, including those in Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdó, suspended operations due to structural damage following the tremor.

The earthquake was also felt in cities such as Bogotá, Cali, Medellín, and neighbouring provinces in Ecuador and Panama, prompting evacuations and structural damage. Valle del Cauca Governor Dilian Francisca Toro lamented that four of the victims were children. "The most painful thing is that there are four children among the fatalities. Three in Calima-El Darién, one in Jumbo, and there is a seriously injured girl," the governor said in a statement to the press.

Chocó Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba Curi confirmed in the departmental capital, Quibdó, that "there are injured people and significant damage to buildings." "We have destruction of houses throughout the department. Eighty percent of El Cairo is devastated," added Córdoba Curi. The governor urged caution among the population "due to possible aftershocks."

The earthquake has affected Bogotá, Popayán, Manizales, Armenia, Pereira, and Medellín, as well as other cities in the centre and west of the country. Several buildings suffered damage in the city of Cali, where De la Espriella's inauguration took place. "There are many cracked buildings," said Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder.

President Abelardo de la Espriella declared "a state of national disaster" to "strengthen the mobilisation and coordination of institutional capacities to address the emergency." "I have ordered the establishment of a Unified Command Post to coordinate the handling of damages and victims," he announced on social media.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote that "The Trump Administration is closely monitoring the major earthquake that hit Colombia and is prepared to support the Colombian people and the President’s administration." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that satellites from the Copernicus programme have been deployed to assist in rescue operations in Colombia. "Tonight, Europe’s heart is with the people of Colombia," she wrote on X.

The earthquake has caused damage to at least 1,575 homes, including 37 that have been completely destroyed; as well as to 18 health centres, 52 schools, and 17 community centres. There have been 61 building collapses, 18 roads damaged, and seven airports affected, six of which have ceased commercial flights.

President Abelardo de la Espriella reported that the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that shook most of the country on Monday has caused at least 111 deaths and extensive destruction in at least five departments. "At 12:30 (17:30 GMT), we had 111 fatalities, 87 injured, 1,575 damaged homes, 37 completely destroyed, 61 collapsed buildings, 18 health centres, and 52 educational institutions damaged," he detailed in Bogotá, in his first public statement after the earthquake.

The earthquake has also affected Bogotá, Popayán, Manizales, Armenia, Pereira, and Medellín, as well as other cities in the centre and west of the country. Several buildings suffered damage in the city of Cali, where De la Espriella’s inauguration took place. "There are many cracked buildings," said Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder.

President Abelardo de la Espriella declared "a state of national disaster" to "strengthen the mobilisation and coordination of institutional capacities to address the emergency." "I have ordered the establishment of a Unified Command Post to coordinate the handling of damages and victims," he announced on social media.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote that "The Trump Administration is closely monitoring the major earthquake that hit Colombia and is prepared to support the Colombian people and the President’s administration." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that satellites from the Copernicus programme have been deployed to assist in rescue operations in Colombia. "Tonight, Europe’s heart is with the people of Colombia," she wrote on X.

The earthquake has caused damage to at least 1,575 homes, including 37 that have been completely destroyed; as well as to 18 health centres, 52 schools, and 17 community centres. There have been 61 building collapses, 18 roads damaged, and seven airports affected, six of which have ceased commercial flights.

President Abelardo de la Espriella reported that the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that shook most of the country on Monday has caused at least 111 deaths and extensive destruction in at least five departments. "At 12:30 (17:30 GMT), we had 111 fatalities, 87 injured, 1,575 damaged homes, 37 completely destroyed, 61 collapsed buildings, 18 health centres, and 52 educational institutions damaged," he detailed in Bogotá, in his first public statement after the earthquake.

The earthquake has also affected Bogotá, Popayán, Manizales, Armenia, Pereira, and Medellín, as well as other cities in the centre and west of the country. Several buildings suffered damage in the city of Cali, where De la Espriella’s inauguration took place. "There are many cracked buildings," said Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder.

President Abelardo de la Espriella declared "a state of national disaster" to "strengthen the mobilisation and coordination of institutional capacities to address the emergency." "I have ordered the establishment of a Unified Command Post to coordinate the handling of damages and victims," he announced on social media.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote that "The Trump Administration is closely monitoring the major earthquake that hit Colombia and is prepared to support the Colombian people and the President’s administration." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that satellites from the Copernicus programme have been deployed to assist in rescue operations in Colombia. "Tonight, Europe’s heart is with the people of Colombia," she wrote on X.

The earthquake has caused damage to at least 1,575 homes, including 37 that have been completely destroyed; as well as to 18 health centres, 52 schools, and 17 community centres. There have been 61 building collapses, 18 roads damaged, and seven airports affected, six of which have ceased commercial flights.

President Abelardo de la Espriella reported that the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that shook most of the country on Monday has caused at least 111 deaths and extensive destruction in at least five departments. "At 12:30 (17:30 GMT), we had 111 fatalities, 87 injured, 1,575 damaged homes, 37 completely destroyed, 61 collapsed buildings, 18 health centres, and 52 educational institutions damaged," he detailed in Bogotá, in his first public statement after the earthquake.

The earthquake has also affected Bogotá, Popayán, Manizales, Armenia, Pereira, and Medellín, as well as other cities in the centre and west of the country. Several buildings suffered damage in the city of Cali, where De la Espriella’s inauguration took place. "There are many cracked buildings," said Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder.

President Abelardo de la Espriella declared "a state of national disaster" to "strengthen the mobilisation and coordination of institutional capacities to address the emergency." "I have ordered the establishment of a Unified Command Post to coordinate the handling of damages and victims," he announced on social media.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote that "The Trump Administration is closely monitoring the major earthquake that hit Colombia and is prepared to support the Colombian people and the President’s administration." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that satellites from the Copernicus programme have been deployed to assist in rescue operations in Colombia. "Tonight, Europe’s heart is with the people of Colombia," she wrote on X.

The earthquake has caused damage to at least 1,575 homes, including 37 that have been completely destroyed; as well as to 18 health centres, 52 schools, and 17 community centres. There have been 61 building collapses, 18 roads damaged, and seven airports affected, six of which have ceased commercial flights.

President Abelardo de la Espriella reported that the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that shook most of the country on Monday has caused at least 111 deaths and extensive destruction in at least five departments. "At 12:30 (17:30 GMT), we had 111 fatalities, 87 injured, 1,575 damaged homes, 37 completely destroyed, 61 collapsed buildings, 18 health centres, and 52 educational institutions damaged," he detailed in Bogotá, in his first public statement after the earthquake.

The earthquake has also affected Bogotá, Popayán, Manizales, Armenia, Pereira, and Medellín, as well as other cities in the centre and west of the country. Several buildings suffered damage in the city of Cali, where De la Espriella’s inauguration took place. "There are many cracked buildings," said Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder.

President Abelardo de la Espriella declared "a state of national disaster" to "strengthen the mobilisation and coordination of institutional capacities to address the emergency." "I have ordered the establishment of a Unified Command Post to coordinate the handling of damages and victims," he announced on social media.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio wrote that "The Trump Administration is closely monitoring the major earthquake that hit Colombia and is prepared to support the Colombian people and the President’s administration." European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that satellites from the Copernicus programme have been deployed to assist in rescue operations in Colombia. "Tonight, Europe’s heart is with the people of Colombia," she wrote on X.

The earthquake has caused damage to at least 1,575 homes, including 37 that have been completely destroyed; as well as to 18 health centres, 52 schools, and 17 community centres. There have been 61 building collapses, 18 roads damaged, and seven airports affected, six of which have ceased commercial flights.

President Abelardo de la Espriella reported that the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that shook most of the country on Monday has caused at least 111 deaths and extensive destruction in at least five departments. "At 12:30 (17:30 GMT), we had 111 fatalities, 87 injured, 1,575 damaged homes, 37 completely destroyed, 61 collapsed buildings, 18 health centres, and 52 educational institutions damaged," he detailed in Bogotá, in his first public statement after the earthquake.

The earthquake has also affected Bogotá, Popayán, Manizales, Armenia, Pereira, and Medellín, as well as other cities in the centre and west of the country. Several buildings suffered damage in the city of Cali, where De la Espriella’s inauguration took place. "There are many cracked buildings," said Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder.

President Abelardo de la Espriella declared "a state of national disaster" to "strengthen the mobilisation and coordination of institutional capacities to address the emergency." "I have ordered the establishment of a Unified Command Post to coordinate the handling of damages and victims," he announced on social media.

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