‘Major’ damage, flight ops suspended, buildings evacuated: What officials said after massive Colombia quake
The earthquake led to serious damage and injuries in the city of Pereira in western Colombia, the provincial governor told the local radio.
The city of Pereira, western Colombia, experienced significant damage and injuries following a major quake on Monday, with at least 18 fatalities reported, according to the governor of Risaralda province and the mayor. The tremors also struck Manizales, resulting in the loss of two more lives. Ecuadorian officials reported that the quake had prompted evacuations of buildings in the neighboring nation as well.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Colombian Geological Service initially recorded the earthquake's magnitude at 7.4, with a depth of 96 kilometers (60 miles). Local media footage revealed homes and small buildings collapsing in Pereira, Cali, and Quibdo. In Manizales, the neo-Gothic cathedral's tower collapsed, falling onto the nave.
The Colombia Aviation Authority informed that airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura sustained damage, leading to temporary suspensions of flight operations. Bogota's Mayor Carlos Galan stated that no major damage had occurred in the capital. Meanwhile, the Colombian National Unit for Disaster Risk Management was in contact with local authorities to assess potential damage and expected to release an official report soon.
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