7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Devastates Western Colombia

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 on the Richter scale struck western Colombia on Monday, resulting in the collapse of multiple buildings across several cities. The casualty count has reached at least 47, with many individuals still trapped under debris.

Footage captured the dramatic moment a building crumbled under the force of the earthquake, as onlookers reacted with horror. Colombia’s geological service reported the quake at a depth of 96 km (60 miles). The U.S. tsunami warning system confirmed no tsunami threat was present.

The Trump Administration is closely monitoring the situation in Colombia following the quake and is prepared to assist President @ABDELAESPRIELLA’s Administration and the Colombian people, stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio on X.

U.S. citizens residing in Colombia are advised to register at STEP.State.gov and follow @USEmbassyBogota for updates.

The highest death toll recorded was in Pereira, situated in Colombia’s coffee region, where Mayor Mauricio Salazar reported 18 fatalities. In Manizales, three lives were lost according to Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas. Buenaventura, the primary Pacific port of Colombia, experienced building collapses, resulting in one death with others trapped, as reported by Mayor Ligia del Carmen Cordoba.

In Cali, one of the largest cities, over two dozen structures collapsed, leaving people trapped. Mayor Alejandro Eder stated that Cali requested assistance from Bogota and Medellin to aid in rescue operations.

We have rescued two individuals alive: an elderly woman and a young girl. More people remain trapped, Eder shared with Blu Radio. We are addressing 12 critical locations and 25 collapsed structures.

The quake’s epicenter was near San Jose del Palmar in Choco, a sparsely populated area on Colombia’s Pacific Coast. Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi reported injuries and significant damage in Quibdo, the capital, and warned of possible aftershocks.

Following the quake, flights were suspended at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura as structural checks were conducted by aviation inspectors.

Colombia’s disaster agency noted the quake at 7:34 local time (8:34 ET) impacted nine departments and all 32 departmental capitals, prompting evacuations and reports of significant damage.

Witnesses in the Venezuelan border state of Tachira and Barquisimeto also experienced the tremor. Venezuela has previously suffered severe twin earthquakes in June, resulting in over 6,000 deaths near Caracas.

This report includes contributions from Reuters.