Colombia rocked by powerful earthquake, with almost 80 dead
A major earthquake hit Colombia on Monday morning, burying people under rubble and causing severe damage to buildings and infrastructure in the western part of the country. The magnitude-7.4 quake struck near the town of San Jose del Palmar, in Choco province, according to the US Geological Survey. There was at least one aftershock, but no tsunami warning. Nearly 80 people have been reported…
A powerful earthquake struck Colombia early Monday, leaving at least 79 people dead and causing significant damage across the western part of the country. The magnitude-7.4 tremor originated near San Jose del Palmar in Choco province, according to the US Geological Survey. A subsequent aftershock was recorded, but there was no tsunami warning issued.
Images from local media showed people trapped under debris, with a cathedral tower collapsed in Manizales. Civil defense forces, firefighters, and volunteers were mobilized to rescue those trapped. Reports indicated cracks in buildings in Medellin and Cali, the country's second and third most populous cities, while Bogota experienced shaking that prompted some residents to flee their homes still in their nightclothes.
Airports in several Colombian cities suspended flights for inspections due to potential structural damage. This disaster follows a series of devastating earthquakes in neighboring Venezuela in June, which claimed more than 6,000 lives. It also comes days after the inauguration of Colombia's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, marking a critical test for his administration. President de la Espriella's government has declared a state of natural disaster.
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