132 Dead in Colombia's 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Disaster
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 132 people and injuring more than 570. The quake, which occurred at a depth of 110 kilometers, was felt across Colombia, including the capital Bogota, and in neighboring Ecuador and Panama. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency as rescue workers search through collapsed structures amid power outages.
Volunteers and rescuers are working together to find survivors, forming human chains to remove bricks and masonry, and stopping every few minutes to listen for signs of life from those trapped below. The city of Pereira, which was among those hit hardest, was mostly plunged into darkness amid power outages on Monday night. Residents are describing the scene as “like a zombie city” with structures on the verge of collapsing.
The quake has caused widespread destruction, with furniture and fabrics sandwiched between concrete, walls and floors tossed into irregular angles, and cabling strewn across roads. In Manizales, the quake crumpled a tower of the city’s beloved neo-Gothic cathedral. Hospitals in five Colombian cities were put on red alert, and a nighttime curfew was declared in Cali.
The international community is offering support, with messages coming in from countries across the region and the world. The devastation comes less than two months after powerful twin quakes rattled neighboring Venezuela, killing over 6,300 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless.
The Colombian Association of Capital Cities reported that the quake killed 132 people and injured more than 570 as of Monday afternoon. President de la Espriella vowed a concerted rescue effort, saying “we are trying to get everyone out alive.” The US Geological Survey said the quake was likely caused by movement along a deep fault within the Nazca tectonic plate.
This earthquake is the strongest to hit Colombia in a decade, and the rescue efforts are ongoing. The situation is being closely monitored by the international community, with the United States stating that it “stands ready to support” the affected areas.
