7.4 Earthquake Kills At Least 132 In Western Colombia As Rescuers Search San Jose Del Palmar

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 132 people and injuring more than 570 as rescue workers searched for people trapped under debris.

“killing at least 132 people, destroying a hospital, damaging hundreds of buildings”

SMH.au

The quake hit at 7.34am on Monday at a depth of 103 kilometres, with its epicentre in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of about 4800 people in the Choco region about 400 kilometres west of the capital Bogota, according to the US Geological Survey.

6abc Philadelphia

Colombia’s President Abelardo de Espriella, inaugurated only on Friday, declared a state of emergency and pledged, “We aren’t going to leave people alone. They are in our hearts, and we are going to tend to people with our full determination,” as the president said an initial estimate put about 1600 buildings damaged, including some 61 completely collapsed.

In Pereira, photos and videos published by local media showed pieces of the airport ceiling falling on people taking shelter, who were screaming, while in Cali search teams and civilians picked through the remains of destroyed buildings as volunteers passed large pieces of concrete and other rubble down a line.

The disaster also triggered aftershocks, with Colombia’s Geological Service saying the earthquake was the strongest recorded in Colombia “in the 21st century” and that it was followed by 21 less powerful aftershocks.

As the death toll rose, CBS News said that by Monday night more than 2,700 people had been reported missing, while the quake struck cities across Colombia’s western region shortly after 7:30 a.m. local time and left residents panicked on the streets.

In a separate account, 6abc Philadelphia reported that President Abelardo de la Espriella said Monday afternoon at least 111 people had died, and that by Monday night more than 2,700 people had been reported missing, with families posting information about missing loved ones on citizen-run websites.

Al Jazeera

The U.S. government announced an emergency aid package worth $15.5 million for Colombia, with WION citing the U.S. State Department’s statement that it would “stand ready to support President Abelardo de la Espriella,” after the earthquake killed at least 111 people.

In Cali, the Straits Times reported that President Abelardo De La Espriella said 35 people died in Cali alone and 188 were missing, and it said 1,000 members of the security forces would be deployed to the city by dawn following reports of looting.

In Spain, RTVE.es said Minister of Foreign Affairs José Manuel Albares informed that 164 Spaniards were awaiting to be located in Colombia after the earthquake, and that there were no registered injuries or deaths among Spanish nationals.

Rescue efforts continued into a second day as emergency workers dug through collapsed buildings and flattened homes, with the Straits Times saying the death toll from Colombia’s most powerful earthquake in decades could rise.

“in Cali, home to about 2.2 million people, at least 85 people were killed”

The Straits Times

The Straits Times reported that in Cali, home to about 2.2 million people, at least 85 people were killed, and it quoted hospital director Irne Torres Castro saying several of the top floors of a hospital collapsed upon themselves, leaving some patients trapped and forcing some 600 others to be tended to on a street strewn with rubble.

In Pereira, the Straits Times said authorities reported 66 dead, while the city’s airport violently swayed during the quake with large chunks of the ceiling collapsing as people sheltered, as verified by Reuters.

NBC News said that in a national briefing President Abelardo De La Espriella ordered into existence earlier in the day, 188 people were missing, three hospitals had collapsed, and 18 other hospitals had been affected, with 39 schools also affected.

NBC News also reported that Colombia’s newly inaugurated president said 700 people were injured and an estimated 5,000 homes were damaged or destroyed, while the U.S. State Department said the Trump administration was committing $15.5 million to Colombia for emergency shelter, food, protection and other needs.