7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia leaves at least 24 dead

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, resulting in at least 24 fatalities and numerous injuries. The quake's epicenter was in San José del Palmar, situated in the eastern portion of the Chocó Department in west-central Colombia. The tremor, which occurred at a depth of 82 kilometers, inflicted significant damage to structures in Quibdó, the provincial capital.

The earthquake's impact was felt across various regions of Colombia and even reached Ecuador's capital, Quito. In Bogotá, the tremor activated alarms in certain buildings, prompting precautionary evacuations. Authorities commenced evaluating potential destruction. Chocó Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi disclosed the initial damage and voiced apprehension regarding potential aftershocks, stating, "We have just endured a severe earthquake in the department of Chocó. We are concerned about aftershocks."

Córdoba-Curi confirmed that, despite the epicenter being in San José del Palmar, the majority of the initial damage was concentrated in Quibdó, with "serious damage to buildings." President Abelardo de la Espriella, who assumed office only three days prior on August 7, declared through his X account that he had "directly assumed leadership of the emergency response."

He ordered the establishment of a Unified Command Post to coordinate aid for those affected and address the reported damage. De la Espriella also mentioned that he would personally visit the area to assess the government's response.

The article was first published in Buenos Aires Herald.