At least 111 dead in the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western and central Colombia on Monday, resulting in at least 111 deaths and 87 injuries, according to the official toll provided by President Abelardo de la Espriella at 12:30 local time. The quake hit the municipality of San José del Palmar, located in Chocó department, at a depth of over 80 kilometers. This is the strongest earthquake recorded in Colombia in the past decade.

Pereira and its metropolitan area bore the brunt of the disaster, with most of the fatalities occurring there. However, fatalities were also reported in Valle del Cauca, Antioquia, and other regions. The government estimated that over 1,500 homes were damaged, with 37 completely destroyed and 61 buildings collapsing. Additionally, 18 health centers, 52 schools, 17 community centers, and 18 roads sustained damage.

The suspension of civil aviation operations at seven air terminals, including Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura, further compounded the challenges faced by rescue efforts. Hospitals in Cali, particularly the Hospital Universitario del Valle, suffered partial collapses and structural damage, leading to the evacuation of multiple health institutions and at least seven intensive care patients trapped under rubble.

Valle del Cauca governor Dilian Francisca Toro reported at least five intensive care patients in critical condition, while Cali mayor Alejandro Eder appealed for rescue teams from Bogotá and Medellín to assist in freeing individuals trapped in collapsed structures. President de la Espriella declared a national disaster situation and is leading a unified command post at the National Disaster Risk Management Unit, with additional support centers in Armenia and Quibdó.

The foreign ministry is coordinating international cooperation, with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen offering assistance.

The Colombian Geological Service reported two aftershocks of magnitudes 2.8 and 4.8 following the initial earthquake. Furthermore, the Puracé volcano in Cauca department, which had been under orange alert since July, emitted ash and gases, coinciding in time with the earthquake.