At least 111 people have died following a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia. The government has declared a state of emergency in the affected areas and accelerated rescue efforts to save those trapped under the rubble. While there were no casualties near the epicenter, significant structural damage occurred in the city of Pereira. Kathmandu, August 12.
The 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia resulting in dozens of buildings collapsing and many feared trapped under debris. Officials have warned that the death toll could rise. Following the quake, the government declared a state of emergency across the impacted regions. According to Colombia’s Geological Service, the earthquake occurred on Monday at 7:34 am local time, with its epicenter near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. The tremor originated at a depth of approximately 103 kilometers.
The United States Geological Survey (USGS) also confirmed the earthquake in western Colombia registering at 7.4 magnitude. According to the USGS, the epicenter was about 3 miles east of San José del Palmar and roughly 280 kilometers west of the capital Bogotá. The city of Pereira suffered extensive damage, although there were no casualties reported near the epicenter. Pereira, a major city in Colombia’s coffee-producing region, experienced the greatest impact. Buildings collapsed and significant damage was reported about 55 kilometers from the epicenter. Verified footage shows a building collapsing near Plaza Bolívar, Pereira’s main square.
At the time of the quake, the square was crowded with people. In addition to Pereira, nearby towns and the Valle del Cauca region also felt major effects. Local authorities in San José del Palmar village, the epicenter, reported no human casualties. Mayor Leon Fabio Marin Moncada stated that while roads in and out of the village were damaged, there have been no reported deaths or injuries so far. The quake’s impact was felt in Bogotá and other parts of the country. Residents in Bogotá evacuated buildings as shaking caused alarms to sound in several locations.
Bogotá Mayor Carlos Galán shared via social media that, to date, no human casualties or significant structural damage have been reported in the capital. Some buildings have sustained minor cracks. A comprehensive damage assessment is still pending. Rescue and search operations have intensified after the quake, as there are concerns that people may still be trapped under the rubble, potentially raising the number of casualties. Seismologists are reanalyzing the preliminary magnitude and other data. The USGS has indicated that updates to the magnitude and intensity details may be made as more information becomes available.
