69 Killed, Dozens Injured After Powerful 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Colombia

69 Killed, Dozens Injured After Powerful 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Colombia

Bogota, Aug. 10 [VoM News]: At least 69 people were killed and dozens injured after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, causing widespread destruction, collapsing buildings and damaging critical infrastructure, officials said.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake struck at a depth of 107 kilometres. Its epicentre was near San Jose del Palmar, a town of about 4,800 residents in the Choco region, around 400 kilometres west of Bogota. Tremors were also felt across neighbouring Ecuador.

Authorities said the quake caused extensive damage in several cities, including Pereira, Cali, Quibdo and Manizales. Local media footage showed homes and commercial buildings reduced to rubble, while one tower of the neo-Gothic cathedral in Manizales collapsed.

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Pereira Mayor Mauricio Salazar described the situation as “critical,” saying at least 18 of the fatalities were reported from the city alone. Rescue teams continued searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed structures.

Colombia’s civil aviation authority said six airports in western Colombia sustained damage and suspended operations. The affected airports serve the cities of Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura.

President Abelardo de la Espriella said he had taken direct charge of the government’s emergency response and was travelling to Bogota to coordinate rescue and relief efforts through the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD).

“You are not alone. The state is present and taking action,” the president said in a statement, assuring affected communities that all available resources were being mobilised.

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Although moderate earthquakes are relatively common in central and western Colombia, quakes exceeding magnitude 6.0 are uncommon. The country has experienced devastating seismic disasters in the past, including the 1999 Armenia earthquake that claimed more than 1,100 lives.

Emergency response teams remain engaged in rescue operations as authorities continue assessing the full extent of casualties and damage.