7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Western Colombia, Killing at Least 20
Apnews · 3 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago1 MIN
Summary
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 20 people and causing widespread damage across multiple cities. The epicenter was located near San Jose del Palmar in the Choco region, approximately 400 kilometers west of Bogota. Rescue efforts are underway as authorities warn of potential aftershocks.
Key Points
- At least 20 people were killed: 18 in Pereira and 2 in Manizales, with others trapped under collapsed buildings
- The epicenter was in San Jose del Palmar, Choco region, with a depth of 107 kilometers according to the USGS
- At least 19 buildings collapsed in Cali, a city of 2 million people, trapping residents inside
- Regional capital Quibdo reported injuries and significant building damage from the governor
- Flights were suspended at six airports including Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura
Why It Matters
The earthquake strikes a region unaccustomed to quakes above magnitude 6.0, leaving rescue teams scrambling to extract survivors from rubble in multiple cities simultaneously . With infrastructure damage reported across nine departments and warnings of aftershocks, the disaster could strain Colombia's emergency response resources as officials assess the full scope of destruction .
The earthquake strikes a region unaccustomed to quakes above magnitude 6.0, leaving rescue teams scrambling to extract survivors from rubble in multiple cities simultaneously . With infrastructure damage reported across nine departments and warnings of aftershocks, the disaster could strain Colombia's emergency response resources as officials assess the full scope of destruction .