7.4 Earthquake Kills At Least 111 in Western Colombia, Collapses Buildings in Cali

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday morning, killing at least 111 people and collapsing buildings across the affected region, with search and rescue workers and civilians picking through rubble in cities including Cali.

“killing at least 111 people”

AP News

The epicenter was located in San Jose del Palmar, about 200 miles west of Bogota, and the quake hit at 7:34 a.m. local time, according to the U.S. Geological Survey cited by FOX 5.

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Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella said at least 87 people were injured and around 1,600 buildings were damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed, and he declared an emergency to expedite funding for recovery.

In Cali, Álvaro López said, “Our building has basically been left in ruins, and the building next to ours? Completely collapsed,” as he watched searches continue.

The AP reported that the death toll included at least 40 people killed in the Risaralda region, where Pereira is located, and 27 people in the Valle del Cauca region, where Cali is located, including three children.

In South Florida, leaders and a Doral-based humanitarian organization mobilized to send aid to Colombia after the quake, with Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) meeting in Doral to discuss relief efforts.

Weston Commissioner Fabio Andrade said, “There's a lot of damage, and we are waiting for information as to what the needs are. The first is rescue and recovery,” as he joined other elected leaders at GEM.

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Doral Mayor Christi Fraga said, “There's a lot of emergency supplies here already that we could start to proportion off to Colombia,” while GEM board member Francine De La Rosa described frantic calls to reach loved ones.

In San Diego, Andres Rodriguez, manager and co-owner of Antojitos Colombianos in Sherman Heights, said his family is trying to organize a donation drive to help those affected, and he described contacting relatives in Manizales and Cali.

Andres Rodriguez said, “Clothes, shoes and whatever we can just collect and send help over there through the Colombian embassy,” as the plan aims to transport collected goods from San Diego to Los Angeles and eventually to Colombia.

Colombia’s Geological Service confirmed the quake was the country’s strongest recorded “in the 21st century,” and it was followed by 21 less powerful aftershocks, according to the AP.

“followed by 21 less powerful aftershocks”

AP News

FOX 5 reported that the quake was followed by several aftershocks, including one measuring a 4.8 magnitude, and it said Colombia’s Geological Service confirmed the highest magnitude earthquake in the country in the last decade.

The AP said the town closest to the epicenter, San Jose del Palmar, has no airport and is located on top of a mountain ridge along a highway linking the cities of Cali and Pereira, while phone signals were out in many parts of Quibdo.

In Bogota, the Tribune reported that Bogota Mayor Carlos F Galan announced on X that six collection points for donations were being set up, seeking essential supplies including drinking water, blankets, non-perishable food, hygiene products and first-aid materials.

The Tribune also quoted Bogota Mayor Carlos F Galan writing, “In Bogota, we have set up 6 collection points to receive donations for the cities most affected by the earthquake,” as the response coordinated with the National Government to send 100 rescuers from Bogota.