Earthquake on Colombia’s Pacific Coast causes injuries and damage
A powerful ۷.۴-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia today, shaking the South American nation and neighbouring Ecuador and causing people to evacuate homes and buildings.
At least ۲۰ buildings collapsed in an earthquake on Monday in the Colombian city of Cali, with people trapped inside, mayor Alejandro Eder said. The city has requested teams from Bogota and Medellin to aid in rescue efforts, he added.
The epicentre was in San Jose Del Palmar, a municipality in the Choco region about ۲۵۰ miles (۴۰۰km) west of Colombia’s capital, Bogota, the US Geological Survey and Colombia’s counterpart reported. The USGS said it struck at a depth of ۶۶ miles (۱۰۷km).
Choco governor Nubia Córdoba said on social media that in the regional capital, “there are injuries and serious damage to buildings,” without providing further details.
The temblor follows two back-to-back ۷.۲ and ۷.۵ magnitude earthquakes in Venezuela in late June. Those earthquakes destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed more than ۵,۰۰۰ people.
Key events
Tom Phillips
Manizales’ mayor, Jorge Eduardo Rojas Giraldo, said more than ۱۲ buildings and ۲۰ homes had been partially or completely destroyed in that city.
At least two people had died as a result of the quake, Rojas added in a social media video. He said citizens needed to be “completely ready” for aftershocks.
“Do not go back into the buildings yet – I know this isn’t easy but stay outside for a little while at least because there could be an aftershock.”
The mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, said at least ۲۰ buildings had collapsed in his city and that some people were trapped inside. He did not specify how many.
“Right now, we are trying to map out what has happened, firstly to protect lives and secondly to be able to push ahead with any kind of rescue that might be necessary,” Eder said, urging citizens to stay calm.
Cali’s mayor also instructed residents to check their buildings for structural damage. “If you do not feel safe, if you see very large cracks, please, leave the building,” he advised.
Colombian president Abelardo de la Espriella said in a post on X that he will personally supervise recovery efforts and install an emergency centre in San Jose del Palmar.
The quake follows two back-to-back ۷.۲ and ۷.۵ magnitude earthquakes in Venezuela in late June. Those earthquakes destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed more than ۵,۰۰۰ people.
Footage shared by local media outlets showed homes and small buildings collapsing in the cities of Pereira, Cali and Quibdo.
In Manizales, a city about ۱۹۰ miles (۳۰۰km) west of Bogota, one of the towers of the neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed and fell on the nave.
In Cali, a city of ۲m people, mayor Alejandro Eder said that residents were trapped in at least ۱۹ buildings that had collapsed.
Small earthquakes, known as “temblores,” are common in central and western Colombia, but those above ۶.۰ magnitude are rare. In ۱۹۹۹, a ۶.۲ magnitude quake near the city of Armenia, killed more than ۱,۱۰۰ people.
Six airports in Colombia suspend operations
Six airports damaged in today’s earthquake in Colombia have suspended operations, the civil aeronautics agency said.
These airports in western Colombia serve Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura, the agency wrote on X.
Earthquake on Colombia’s Pacific Coast causes injuries and damage
A powerful ۷.۴-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia today, shaking the South American nation and neighbouring Ecuador and causing people to evacuate homes and buildings.
At least ۲۰ buildings collapsed in an earthquake on Monday in the Colombian city of Cali, with people trapped inside, mayor Alejandro Eder said. The city has requested teams from Bogota and Medellin to aid in rescue efforts, he added.
The epicentre was in San Jose Del Palmar, a municipality in the Choco region about ۲۵۰ miles (۴۰۰km) west of Colombia’s capital, Bogota, the US Geological Survey and Colombia’s counterpart reported. The USGS said it struck at a depth of ۶۶ miles (۱۰۷km).
Choco governor Nubia Córdoba said on social media that in the regional capital, “there are injuries and serious damage to buildings,” without providing further details.
The temblor follows two back-to-back ۷.۲ and ۷.۵ magnitude earthquakes in Venezuela in late June. Those earthquakes destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed more than ۵,۰۰۰ people.
