콜롬비아 지진 사망자 200명대로…“실종자 4000명”

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia's western region, resulting in over 200 reported deaths. Colombian rescue teams worked around the clock to search for survivors trapped in rubble. AFP reported the death toll had risen to 240 by the 11th local time, while Reuters cited official estimates of more than 250 fatalities. The worst-affected cities included Pereira, Cali, Quibdo, Manizales, and Armenia, with damage concentrated in the Colombian western region.

Cali, the country's third-largest city with a population of about 2.2 million, saw at least 95 deaths, with parts of a hospital collapsing and trapping some patients. In Pereira alone, where a population of 500,000 resides, at least 101 deaths were reported. Colombian authorities estimate that 13,067 homes were destroyed and 2,501 damaged by the quake.

Medical facilities, educational institutions, community centers, and roads were among the structures impacted. The government declared a national emergency the day after the quake and deployed emergency rescue efforts throughout the night. As search and rescue efforts continue in collapsed buildings, the death toll is expected to rise.

Colombian private companies estimate that 4,000 people remain missing. This quake occurred just three days after President Abelardo Esparraz's inauguration, on the Pacific coastal Cocora Mar del Norte region located near Cali. According to initial analysis by the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake struck at 7:34 AM Colombian time on October 10th.

The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) noted that this quake was the largest ever recorded in Colombia since the 21st century.