7.4 Earthquake Kills At Least 132 In Western Colombia; President Abelardo De La Espriella Declares Emergency

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) — An early morning earthquake struck Colombia Monday, sending shockwaves through San Diego's Colombian community, including the owners of a local restaurant who are now trying to organize a donation drive to help those affected. Andres Rodriguez, manager and co-owner of Antojitos Colombianos in Sherman Heights, said his uncle woke him with news of the earthquake. His uncle, Javier Rodriguez, opened the restaurant 17 years ago. The family lives mostly in Cali and Manizales, two of the hardest-hit cities. "Right away we called our families over there in the two cities, Manizales and Cali," Andres Rodriguez said. Javier described the scenes coming out of Colombia. "Buildings collapsed, people crying and everything running around like crazy," Javier Rodriguez said. Although their loved ones are safe, power outages and loss of cell signal have made communication difficult. "I just see what the news is showing because our families, they have no signal. There's no Wi-Fi, there's no electricity right now over there, so it's hard to communicate with them right now," Andres Rodriguez said. Concerns about aftershocks remain as the community continues to monitor the situation. The family is now working to plan a fundraiser and donation drive, hoping to partner with the Colombian Embassy to transport collected goods from San Diego to Los Angeles and eventually to Colombia. "Clothes, shoes and whatever we can just collect and send help over there through the Colombian embassy," Andres Rodriguez said. San Diego is home to roughly 11,000 Colombians, many of whom spent Monday checking on family back home. Despite the uncertainty, Javier Rodriguez said he is grateful his family is safe. "I thank God for for because we're fine," Javier Rodriguez said. Details of the donation drive will be posted as soon as they become available. This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- A deadly 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday has killed at least 111 people and destroyed hundreds of buildings, prompting a scramble among members of the Philadelphia area's Colombian community to reach loved ones and begin organizing relief efforts. The earthquake hit just days after Colombia swore in a new president, a circumstance that one Colombian official said is making an already difficult response even more challenging. For members of Philadelphia's Colombian community, Monday's devastating earthquake triggered hours of uncertainty as families sought information from relatives back home. "In the beginning, it's just a fear," said Jael Conde, vice chair of Accion Colombia in Philadelphia. "You don't know what's happening. You don't know how is your family, your friends, everyone back home." READ MORE | At least 111 dead, buildings collapsed after 7.4-magnitude earthquake shakes western Colombia Conde said her relatives, including family members in affected areas, were ultimately safe. "Everyone is safe, thankfully; even family members who were in the affected areas were fine, thank God," Conde said. Others were still waiting for answers. "It was very close to our city, Pereira, so we start to call the family, everybody, but we cannot get in touch," said Sandra Bruce, owner of Los Parceros Steakhouse in Pennsauken Township. Officials expect casualty and damage figures to rise, particularly near the epicenter in the department of Chocó. SEE ALSO | South Jersey woman awaits word from family after Colombia earthquake "That is one of the poorest areas in the country, so we still don't have all the information because connectivity is not good. There is not enough hospitals and so on," said Paula Moreno, president of Manos Visibles and Colombia's former minister of culture. Moreno, who now leads the Bogotá-based nonprofit organization Manos Visibles, said damaged communications systems, hospitals and airports have complicated relief efforts. She also shared videos from Quibdó that showed extensive destruction. "It's a lot of devastation because, of course, the buildings and houses were not built for this kind of environmental incident that we are facing," Moreno said. "Many people lost their homes, many are still looking for their people, half of these schools just collapsed. I know so many children are lost because they were going to the school when this happened." With more than 10,000 Colombians living in the Philadelphia area, leaders from Colombian, Venezuelan and other Hispanic community organizations are discussing ways to coordinate aid for those affected. Conde said they were meeting Monday night. "In the beginning, obviously to help with emergencies but eventually we're going to have to help the families rebuild," Conde said. "It's not a situation in which you can help for a short period of time and expect a change. In these cases, there needs to be sustainable help. Conde added it's also important to devise a plan to help the local community faced with the uncertainty of the situation as things continue to develop. The Consulate General of Colombia in Newark is directing residents to official Colombian Red Cross donation channels and encouraging Colombian nationals in New Jersey and Pennsylvania to monitor official communications as the situation continues to develop.

What is known about the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that left more than one hundred people dead and caused severe damage in Colombia - Byline, Editorial - Author’s title, BBC Mundo News - Publication date - Reading time: 8 minutes It is the “strongest earthquake felt in the last decade” in Colombia. This is how Julio Fierro Morales, the director general of the Colombian Geological Service, described the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday morning, causing dozens of deaths and significant material damage. The powerful quake had its epicenter in the municipality of San José del Palmar, in the Chocó department, although it was felt across much of Colombia, as well as in Panama, Venezuela, and several provinces of Ecuador, including Pichincha, whose capital is Quito. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), it had a depth of 107 km and occurred at 7:34 am local time. Subsequently, the Colombian Geological Service registered at 8:18 am a magnitude 4.6 aftershock with a shallow depth and an epicenter in Nóvita, Chocó. According to the latest update from Monday afternoon, the earthquake left 132 dead and more than 700 injured. More than half a hundred buildings were reported as collapsed, while authorities continue to assess the damage. Numerous buildings collapsed and others were evacuated as a precautionary measure in Bogotá and in cities of the Coffee Axis, as well as in the Tolima, Huila, and Valle del Cauca departments, among other places. Several governments on the continent, including the United States, Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador, and Venezuela, have offered to send rescue teams to assist in searching for survivors and victims. Additionally, European Union countries expressed their solidarity and offered their help. BBC Mundo tells you the key details of this tragedy in Colombia. Which areas were most affected? The Colombian Geological Service collects reports from citizens about how the earthquake was felt in their respective municipalities. By Monday afternoon, it had received more than 14,000 reports from more than 600 municipalities. These reports allow the conclusion that the earthquake was felt most strongly in Pacific littoral departments —such as Chocó, Valle del Cauca, and Cauca— and in the Coffee Axis —Risaralda, Caldas, and Quindío—. The majority of known fatalities are concentrated in the Risaralda (capital Pereira) and Valle del Cauca (Cali) departments. In some municipalities, moderate damage is reported. The Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that more than ten airports were affected by the earthquake and operations were suspended at seven, including those in Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura. Videos circulated by Colombian media show residential buildings partially destroyed in Pereira, less than 100 kilometers from the epicenter, as well as in Manizales, Cali, and other localities in Chocó. The governor of Chocó, Nubia Carolina Córdoba, the department where the earthquake’s epicenter was located, said on Monday afternoon that there are at least 69 injured and that the health network in Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, is collapsed. “We have impacts in most municipalities across the five subregions; there is no power service or cell service.” Several areas of Chocó are completely inaccessible by land. Córdoba asked for national government support to care for the injured, rescue people trapped under debris, and enable emergency agencies to reach isolated areas. In Bahía Solano, a municipality in Chocó, it was reported on Monday that Mateo Valencia, the mayor’s son, had died. The child, 6 years old, was at his school when the earthquake occurred. Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca and Colombia’s third-largest city by economy and population, is one of the most affected locations. Its mayor, Alejandro Eder, told BBC that officials have confirmed the collapse of 32 buildings. He added that 38 people have been rescued from the rubble. At the same time, at least 380 people were injured during the earthquake, causing the collapse of its hospital network. “There are four large-scale institutions that have had to evacuate all patients,” said Cali’s Health Secretary Germán Escobar. “It is likely that none of them can come back online in the coming hours,” he added. Escobar announced “temporary urgent hospital expansions” to be able to attend to the large number of injured as well as patients evacuated from seriously affected hospital infrastructure. In Manizales, the capital of Caldas and part of the Coffee Axis, dozens of buildings were reported damaged. The city’s mayor, Jorge Eduardo Rojas, said that “more than 12 buildings” and “more than 20 homes” were completely or partially destroyed. One of the affected structures in that town was the Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora del Rosario. It is a neo-Gothic church designed by French architect Julien Polti and built with reinforced concrete between 1928 and 1939. It has a central spire taller than 100 meters, making it the tallest cathedral in Colombia and one of the tallest in Latin America. It was declared a symbol of Manizales and a National Cultural Interest Property in 1984. One of its lateral towers was toppled during an earthquake in 1962, so it had to be rebuilt. Pereira, located between Cali and Manizales and 55 km from the estimated earthquake epicenter, was also heavily affected. BBC-verified videos show the extent of damage across the city. In Pereira’s Plaza Bolívar, the main square, images show the collapse of at least one building, scattering rubble and dust across the open space where many people had gathered. To the east, a four-story apartment building wobbles and then collapses at the intersection of 8th and 13th streets. Other images show the collapse of at least one building near Belalcázar Avenue. How did the new government react? This article contains content provided by X. We ask for your permission before anything loads, as that site may be using cookies and other technologies. You may want to read X’s cookie policy and privacy policy before accepting. To view this content, select “accept and continue.” End of X content Casually sworn in in Cali less than 72 hours before the disaster, the government of Abelardo de la Espriella has beenput to the test with this quake. The new leader declared a national state of emergency and announced that the current priority is to rescue people under the rubble. In a post on X, De la Espriella said he called for a Unified Command Post at the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management and that he would personally lead actions to assist the communities of Chocó, the Coffee Axis, and all affected areas. Colombian authorities mobilized five platoons of disaster response soldiers to send to the affected zones. The units are trained for search-and-rescue work in collapsed structures and have access to specialized tools, technological equipment, and dogs trained to detect people under the debris, according to Caracol Radio. Videos broadcast by that outlet show soldiers gathered with stretchers, generators, extraction equipment, and other gear to move to affected areas. In another X post on Monday afternoon, De la Espriella issued a call for the nation’s “unbreakable unity” and stated that the State “will not yield or falter” in the face of the “adversity that today afflicts our people.” He noted that the government is taking on care for the victims and the reconstruction of affected areas with “determination, full dedication, and absolute commitment.” How did the earthquake originate? The earthquake’s epicenter was in the municipality of San José del Palmar, located in the western part of the Western Cordillera, an area of intense tectonic activity. There, off the Pacific coast, the Nazca plate is moving eastward and being subducted under the South American plate at about 65 millimeters per year. The depth of the earthquake indicates that its epicenter was within the oceanic plate that lies beneath the continent, which helped it be felt at great distances, according to the Colombian Geological Service. Although this Monday’s was the strongest quake recorded in that region, in the past several significant earthquakes have occurred there. On November 23, 1979, a magnitude 7.2 earthquake at a depth of about 100 kilometers affected the Coffee Axis. In February 1995 another tremor, magnitude 6.4, caused considerable damage in San José del Palmar, Pereira, and Dosquebradas. Adding to this is the January 25, 1999 earthquake in the Coffee Axis, a shallow magnitude 6.2 quake with an epicenter in Córdoba, Quindío, which devastated much of Armenia. In that 1999 quake, 1,185 people died and it is still regarded as the deadliest in Colombia’s history. Download the BBC World Service mobile app. Choose BBC News Mundo and receive news alerts, documentaries, and analysis, all in one place. Important: the new app is not available in the United Kingdom or the United States.

A powerful earthquake shook Colombia on Monday, August 10, and was felt in major cities such as the capital Bogota and Cali in the southwest of the country, but also in Quito and Panama, according to authorities and AFP journalists. At least 111 people have died and 87 others were injured, according to a new tally, and the government has declared a state of emergency. This earthquake, magnitude 7.4 according to the United States and Colombian geological services, occurred in the very early morning at a depth of about a hundred kilometers. Its epicenter is located near San José del Palmar, in the Choco department (west), on the Pacific coast. No tsunami alert was issued. According to provisional tallies from governors and mayors collected by AFP, 40 deaths were recorded in Risaralda department, whose capital is Pereira. Two deaths were reported in Manizales, another city in the coffee region tourist area. In Valle del Cauca, whose capital is Cali, 27 deaths had been recorded, according to an earlier tally. Abelardo de la Espriella, newly sworn in as president, announced that a declaration of an “emergency state” would be signed during the day to best respond to this catastrophe. In a press conference, he spoke of around 1,500 damaged homes and dozens of collapsed buildings. The president also announced, on X, that he was traveling to the coffee region to assess the situation and to “accompany the affected.” "The situation is critical" Indeed in Pereira, in the coffee tourist region, there are "many injured people" and others still "trapped under the rubble." There is no electricity or mobile network anymore, "the situation is critical," said the mayor, Mauricio Salazar, in an interview with Radio Caracol. The governor of Choco, for her part, wrote on X that there were "injured" and "serious damage to buildings" in Quibdo, the capital of this poor department. The mayor of Cali, the third city in Colombia, also reported "significant damage." Authorities indicated that 20 buildings had collapsed, with people trapped inside. In Bogota, buildings were evacuated, according to AFP reporters on the ground. Several people in pajamas went out into the streets, while sirens blared. The mayor of the capital assured that only superficial cracks had been reported on some buildings. Many airports across the country were also affected. Six airports in western Colombia suspended air operations "until an assessment of structural damage to the infrastructure" was completed, the Civil Aviation authority said on X. The airports involved are located in the coffee tourist region and in Choco department, on the Pacific coast. "Damage is reported at the Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura airports," the agency detailed on X. The earthquake was felt as far as Ecuador, Panama, and neighboring Venezuela. On June 24, a double earthquake of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 killed more than 6,000 people in Venezuela and caused massive destruction. These countries are located on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a zone of high seismic and volcanic activity caused by the movement of tectonic plates, in particular the Nazca plate and the Caribbean plate subducting beneath the South American plate. Israel and the United States, allies of the new Colombian president who leans to a hard right, were among the first countries to offer aid to Colombia. Mexico, Chile, Ecuador, and Spain also expressed their solidarity, as did President Emmanuel Macron, who stated on X, "on behalf of France, my sincerest thoughts are with the Colombian people." The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said the EU is ready to "provide more aid" to Colombia after mobilizing its Copernicus satellite service to facilitate rescue operations.

South Florida leaders and a Doral-based humanitarian organization are mobilizing to send aid to Colombia after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck the western part of the country Monday morning, collapsing buildings and causing widespread destruction. The earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time as officials worked to determine the extent of the damage and what assistance is needed. "There's a lot of damage, and we are waiting for information as to what the needs are. The first is rescue and recovery," said Weston Commissioner Fabio Andrade, who is Colombian American. Andrade joined other elected leaders at Global Empowerment Mission (GEM) in Doral to discuss relief efforts for Colombia. GEM, which has been collecting aid for victims of twin earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June, has launched a new mission to help those affected in Colombia. "Well, the great thing is we know how to get activated really quickly," Doral Mayor Christi Fraga said. "There's a lot of emergency supplies here already that we could start to proportion off to Colombia." Francine De La Rosa, a GEM board member who is from Colombia and has family there, described the frantic effort to reach loved ones after the earthquake. "The calls from today were different," she said. "These were calls of family and friends I was frantically calling." De La Rosa said her family canceled a trip to Colombia for her father's 80th birthday because of the earthquake. "But that's not what's important," she said. "What's important is we need to send out people who are already there — our teams are already doing an analysis at ground zero." GEM will continue collecting monetary donations and supplies for victims of both disasters.

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This is how the earthquake was experienced at the Pereira airport (Colombia): "That hurt a lot, you dumbass!" A devastating earthquake of magnitude 7.4 shook Colombia this Monday, sowing panic and destruction in several regions of the country. In particular, the city of Pereira, capital of the Risaralda department, suffered serious damage, with collapses inside Matecaña International Airport, which forced its closure and that of six other Colombian airports for safety. This strong quake, the largest magnitude recorded in Colombia in the 21st century, has left a preliminary death toll of 111 and 87 injuries, and has affected at least five departments: Valle del Cauca, Chocó, Quindío, Risaralda, and Caldas. The scale of the tragedy and the geography of the affected departments immediately brought to mind the fateful earthquake that struck the region 27 years ago, on January 25, 1999, with its epicenter in Córdoba, Quindío. That quake, magnitude 6.1 and at a much shallower depth of 21 kilometers (compared to the current 103 km with epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó), was even more deadly, causing the deaths of 1,185 people in the coffee-growing central region of the country. In Armenia alone, 971 people lost their lives and 5,377 were injured, with more than 21,000 homes damaged or destroyed. The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) indicated that one of the main causes of the great destruction in 1999 was poor housing construction. It is crucial to remember that at that time, municipalities such as Pereira, Córdoba, Montenegro, Filandia, and Alcalá were also severely affected, raising the total number of injuries to more than 8,536 and the homes destroyed or uninhabitable to almost 36,000, in addition to affecting 6,408 coffee farms. The departments of Quindío, Risaralda, and Caldas, again among the hardest hit by the recent quake, were the same ones affected by the event nearly three decades ago. The current earthquake has caused at least 21 aftershocks up to the time of publication of the bulletin, while Armenia’s event had 138 aftershocks over a month, the strongest at magnitude 5.5. The Colombian president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has declared the current event a “national disaster,” reflecting the gravity of the situation and the urgent need for response.

More than 130 people have died, but the central USGS estimate is around 200 deaths and gives a 27% probability that the death toll will exceed 1,000. A strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia this Monday at 7:34 a.m. local time. The epicenter was located in San José del Palmar, a rural area of Chocó, but the damage extends to densely populated cities such as Cali, Pereira, Manizales, or Armenia, which together have more than 3.5 million inhabitants. The earthquake had almost the same magnitude as the one that devastated Venezuela a month and a half ago: 7.4 versus 7.5 according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). But the surface shaking intensity was lower: grade 7 of 12, two levels below the 9 recorded in Venezuela. The quake on Monday originated about 110 kilometers below the surface, and Venezuela’s at only 10. The death toll The Colombian authorities have confirmed 132 dead, in the latest report issued by the national government. They also report 1,575 homes affected and 61 buildings collapsed. The death toll could rise. The USGS offers estimates that combine the earthquake’s intensity with the population density of the affected areas. Its central calculation rounds to about 200 deaths: the most likely outcome (35%) is that the final figure will be between 100 and 1,000 deaths, although there is a 27% probability that more than 1,000 victims will be reached. The population in part of the region lives in structures vulnerable to seismic shaking, according to USGS. Although there are resilient structures, “earth walls with wooden structural components predominate.” The following table shows the populations of more than 1,000 inhabitants affected by the quake and the level of intensity they have suffered. The depth of the earthquake may have avoided an even greater catastrophe. Seismic energy is dissipated as it travels to the surface, which is why deep earthquakes are usually less deadly than shallow ones. Even so, with 111 confirmed deaths and an ongoing tally, this is already the deadliest earthquake in Colombia since the Armenia earthquake of 1999. That quake, precisely, illustrates the weight of depth: it was much smaller — magnitude 6.2, about 60 times less energy than this Monday’s — but it originated only 17 kilometers deep and left more than a thousand dead in some of the cities affected today. The following graphic shows that relationship: the deadliest earthquakes combine large magnitude with shallow depth. The largest quake in decades As we have seen, magnitude alone is not enough to measure an earthquake’s lethality: depth, location, and construction matter. But it does indicate how rare it is. And shocks like this Monday’s are rare: to find a larger one in Colombia, you have to go back almost half a century, to the Tumaco earthquake of 1979, magnitude 7.7, which left about 600 dead. The USGS catalog’s record is from 1906: an 8.8-magnitude quake on the same Pacific coast, one of the largest ever recorded in the world. Colombia lies in a zone of interaction among the Nazca, South American, and Caribbean plates, making it a seismically very active country. According to Colombia’s Geological Service, about 2,500 earthquakes are registered there each month, most of them of low magnitude or imperceptible.

A violent earthquake of magnitude 7.4 has shaken Colombia, sowing panic in several regions of the country and leaving scenes of anguish that have been recorded in dozens of recordings. Social networks have been flooded with striking videos from citizens and the media showing the ferocity of the seismic movement: from passengers trapped in suspended transportation systems high up, and workers clinging to structures under construction, to distressing mass evacuations in streets and urban centers of cities such as Pereira, Cali, and Bogotá. Curfew in Pereira The mayor of Pereira has decreed a curfew, from 6:00 PM to 5:00 AM, and he expressed emotion when speaking about the earthquake victims in Colombia. He has also announced the suspension of classes and the cancellation of programming for the Harvest Festival. Impact in Chocó The department of Chocó is one of the hardest-hit areas by the earthquake that shook Colombia. The quake was felt in the country’s major cities, even in regions of Ecuador, Venezuela, and Panama, and caused the death of around one hundred people across the territory. Search for the missing At least 132 dead, 570 injured, overwhelmed hospitals, and curfews after the earthquake in Colombia. Pereira, with 60 fatalities, accounts for the largest number of victims; followed by Cali, Quibdó, Manizales, and Armenia as the most affected by the quake. Emergency teams are working against the clock during the first night after the tremor in Colombia. Among the rubble and with specialized machinery, they search for people trapped after the collapse of infrastructure in Pereira. Authorities maintain the rescue deployment in the affected area while damages from aftershocks are assessed. Subscribe to keep reading - Italian opposition criticizes Meloni for creating a 'groundless' diplomatic crisis with Spain - Colombia shaken by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that forces the government to declare a 'national disaster' situation - Meloni’s government labels Spain’s response to impose travel controls on people coming from Italy as 'unacceptable and incomprehensible' - A outbreak of the bacteria that 'eator of flesh' puts the East Coast of the U.S. on alert with the first deaths - A boat with 230 people crosses the Channel, the highest number in a single voyage - Italy rejects Spain’s ultimatum and announces it will maintain border controls at least until August 15 - Netanyahu rejects Trump’s plan to unlock the situation in Gaza and keeps all options open - Lampedusa, Ceuta, Greece, Canary Islands, Poland... How has the EU reacted to other major migration crises?

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, just three days after being sworn into office, declared a state of emergency and vowed a concerted rescue effort. Colombian volunteers and rescuers sifted through rubble with bare hands and buckets on Tuesday, hunting for survivors following a massive 7.4-magnitude quake that has claimed the lives of at least 132 people and injured 570 others. The quake struck several cities across Colombia's picturesque coffee region and Pacific shortly after 7:30 am on Monday, sending panicked residents onto the streets and damaging at least 1,500 buildings. "People ran out naked, people jumped from the second floor of their homes" Wilmer Cuesta, a law student in Quibdo told the AFP news agency, recounting violent temors. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, just three days after being sworn into office, declared a state of emergency and vowed a concerted rescue effort. In Cali, volunteers quickly went to work with picks, basic tools and their own hands to try to find survivors. Andres Felipe Mejia was among those who joined a makeshift crew. "We are trying to get everyone out alive," he told AFP. "One of the rescuers asked anyone trapped to whistle and someone whistled back." "They pulled out a man and a baby, but the wife is still in there," he said near a pancaked multi-storey building. Rescuers formed human chains to remove bricks and masonry, stopping every few minutes to listen for signs of life from those trapped below. "A lot of people have come, with supplies, with food, helping the firefighters, helping the people," he said. There were scenes of destruction in several cities, with furniture and fabrics sandwiched between concrete, walls and floors tossed into irregular angles and cabling strewn across roads. The devastation comes less than two months after powerful twin quakes rattled neighbouring Venezuela, killing over 6,300 people and leaving tens of thousands homeless. Hospitals in five Colombian cities were put on red alert on Monday and a nighttime curfew was declared in Cali, according to local authorities. At least six local airports suspended operations, the civil aeronautics agency said. Authorities warned the toll could rise as rescuers searched collapsed buildings across several cities. In Manizales, an AFP journalist saw many damaged buildings, including the crumpled tower of the city's beloved neo-Gothic cathedral. People prayed Dentist Julian Pena was at home in Quibdo when he felt "very, very strong" shaking. "People were praying in the street. It was overwhelming," he told AFP. "I ran outside carrying nothing and found hundreds of people there." "There are many buildings with gaps, with cracks. There are others that have completely collapsed." The quake was felt across Colombia, including the capital Bogotá, where crowds of people rushed out into the street in their pyjamas. At a depth of 110 kilometres, the quake was also felt in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama. Experts at the US Geological Survey said the quake was likely caused by movement along a deep fault within the Nazca tectonic plate. All upcoming professional football matches have been postponed. Messages of support came in from countries across the region and the world. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was "closely monitoring" the situation and "stands ready to support the people of Colombia." The US later announced $15.5 million (€13.4 million) in emergency relief. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU had mobilised Copernicus, the bloc’s satellite service, to help with rescue operations. France, Mexico, Ecuador and Israel also offered assistance.

En Cali y en Manizales se desprendieron parte de las fachadas de muchos edificios y en la segunda ciudad una de las torres de la catedral sufrió dańos. Un temblor de magnitud 7,4 sacudió este lunes gran parte de Colombia, según el Servicio Geológico Colombiano (SGC), y las autoridades informaron de dańos en varias ciudades como Manizales, Cali y Pereira. Las instituciones colombianas han informado ya que el terremoto ha dejado al menos 111 fallecidos y 87 heridos. El SGC había informado inicialmente de que el terremoto había sido de magnitud 6,7, pero en otro boletín seńaló que fue de 7,4. El temblor se sintió a las 07:34 hora local (12:34 GMT) y tuvo como epicentro la localidad de San José del Palmar, en el departamento del Chocó, situado en la costa del Pacífico, a una profundidad de 82 kilómetros, indicó el SGC en un primer boletín. El sismo se sintió en Bogotá, Cali, Popayán, Manizales, Armenia, Pereira, Medellín y otras ciudades del centro y el oeste del país y en algunas de ellas hubo dańos materiales. En Cali y en Manizales se desprendieron parte de las fachadas de muchos edificios y en la segunda ciudad una de las torres de la catedral sufrió dańos. "Hay muchos edificios agrietados", dijo el alcalde de Cali, Alejandro Eder, en declaraciones a la emisora Blu Radio, sin que hasta el momento se tenga información de víctimas. En Pereira, capital del departamento de Risaralda, numerosas edificaciones sufrieron importantes dańos en su estructura, entre ellas el aeropuerto, y algunas se derrumbaron parcialmente. Por su parte, el alcalde de Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán, seńaló que, de momento, "no hay reporte de afectaciones ni dańos estructurales, solo algunas grietas en edificios". No hay constancia por ahora de espańoles afectados El Ministerio de Exteriores no tiene constancia de que haya espańoles afectados, según han trasladado fuentes del departamento dirigido por José Manuel Albares. La embajada de Espańa en Colombia y el Consulado General están "plenamente activados y siguiendo la situación" aunque "por el momento" no tengan constancia de heridos, desaparecidos o fallecidos. Asimismo, han recomendado a los espańoles que se encuentren en Colombia "seguir en todo momento las indicaciones de las autoridades locales y la información y contactos en las redes sociales de la embajada de Espańa y del Consulado General". También recuerdan los teléfonos de emergencia disponibles: +573164733216 y +34 910001249. El Consulado General de Espańa en Bogotá también ha facilitado a través de redes sociales la línea de teléfono "123" para emergencias y el correo del Consulado ([email protected]). El epicentro del seísmo, registrado sobre las 7.34 horas (hora local), se ha situado a cinco kilómetros al este de San José del Palmar y ha tenido una profundidad de 107 kilómetros, según ha informado el Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos (USGS) en un informe preliminar.

Colombia rescuers race against the clock to search for earthquake survivors Rescuers in western Colombia worked through the night and into Tuesday searching for survivors beneath the wreckage after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake devastated parts of the country’s coffee-growing region on Monday. At least 164 people have been killed and authorities are warning the number of casualties could still climb. To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Rescue efforts across western Colombia carried into a second day on Tuesday as emergency workers dug through collapsed buildings and flattened homes, amid expectations that the death toll from the country’s most powerful earthquake in decades could rise. The 7.4-magnitude earthquake tore through Colombia’s coffee-growing heartland early on Monday, killing at least 164 people. The quake reduced multi-storey buildings to rubble in cities such as Pereira and Cali, and cracked apart one of the towers of a historic cathedral in the city of Manizales. Emergency teams aided by police, soldiers and volunteers worked through the night with excavators and, at times, their bare hands, hunting for survivors beneath debris. In Cali, home to about 2.2 million people, at least 85 people were killed. Dozens of buildings were left leaning precariously or destroyed outright, forcing residents into the streets. Several of the top floors of one of the city’s hospitals – some dedicated to pediatric care – collapsed upon themselves, leaving some patients trapped and forcing some 600 others to be tended to on a street strewn with rubble, hospital director Irne Torres Castro told Caracol television. To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Carmen Yasmin Garcia, 43, a Cali resident volunteering with rescue teams, said on Monday afternoon that her group had freed seven people from a collapsed building, but four others and a dog remained trapped. “A moment ago there was scratching but now we can’t hear anything, we still have faith that the dog is alive and we can get these people out,” Garcia said. “We need people with sticks and spades, the more people lending a hand the better.” In Pereira, capital of the hard-hit state of Risaralda, authorities reported 66 dead. The city also bore some of the most visible destruction, with entire residential blocks reduced to piles of concrete and twisted steel. Videos posted on social media and verified by Reuters showed the city’s airport violently swaying during the quake, with large chunks of the ceiling collapsing as people sheltered. To display this content from X (Twitter), you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Another 13 people died in Choco, the rural province closest to the quake’s epicenter. Security forces headed to Cali President Abelardo De La Espriella, who assumed power just days ago, said 35 people died in Cali alone, while 188 were missing. He said 1,000 members of the security forces would be deployed to the city by dawn, following reports of looting. Cali, as well as Pereira, implemented curfews on Monday night. “Our intention is to cooperate in any way necessary. Here, there are no distinctions or ideological divisions when it comes to defending our people or showing solidarity,” De La Espriella told journalists on Monday evening. The disaster has drawn comparisons to a deadly 1999 earthquake that devastated the same coffee-growing region, killing more than 1,000 people, as well as to catastrophic quakes that killed more than 6,300 in neighbouring Venezuela in June. (FRANCE 24 with Reuters)

- i24NEWS - International - Latin America - Colombia earthquake death toll rises to 132, hundreds injured Colombia earthquake death toll rises to 132, hundreds injured President Abelardo De La Espriella declared a national state of emergency, saying, "The national government has all of its capabilities deployed to protect lives, assist affected communities" A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia's coffee-growing region on Monday, killing at least 132 people and injuring 570, according to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities. The disaster marks the first major crisis for newly inaugurated President Abelardo De La Espriella. The death toll included 60 fatalities in the western city of Pereira alone, with figures expected to rise as rescue operations continue. Five capital cities are under red alert, 86 buildings have collapsed, and seven airports have suspended operations. At least 188 people are missing in Cali, according to the city's mayor. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck at a depth of 107 kilometers (66 miles), while Colombia's Geological Service called it the strongest earthquake recorded in the country in the 21st century. De La Espriella declared a national state of emergency, saying, "The national government has all of its capabilities deployed to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver aid wherever it is needed," he said, adding, "The first priority is rescuing the people trapped under the rubble." Around 1,600 buildings were reported damaged or collapsed across cities including Cali, Quibdo and Pereira, and more than 2,700 people had been reported missing on citizen-run tracking websites by Monday night. Local authorities said 80% of the town of El Cairo, near the quake's epicenter in San Jose Del Palmar, was damaged. Sixteen people were rescued from an aerial cable car system in Pereira after being trapped for six hours. Manizales also had to evacuate passengers and suspend its cable car system due to structural damage. Suggested articles Authorities in Cali, Armenia and Manizales announced curfews amid looting threats, with De La Espriella promising 1,000 additional security personnel for Cali. Video showed rescuers pulling a six-month-old girl and her mother from rubble in Cali, while footage from Manizales showed a tower of the city's cathedral collapsing. The earthquake left many Colombians unnerved after twin earthquakes devastated neighboring Venezuela in late June, with the death toll now reaching more than 6,300 people. This earthquake in Colombia is reminiscent of a 1999, 6.1 magnitude earthquake in the same region, which killed 1,185 people and injured more than 8,500, with most of the damage concentrated in Armenia. De La Espriella traveled to Quibdo, the capital of Choco province, one of Colombia's poorest and most neglected regions, saying he had mobilized "the entire military and police apparatus" and deployed engineers, rescue workers and search dogs. He announced rental subsidies for those whose homes were damaged, saying, "Choco will never again be the 'land of the forgotten.'" This post can't be displayed because social networks cookies have been deactivated. You can activate them by clicking . The US State Department announced it was committing $15.5 million for shelter, food, protection and earthquake assessments, and said it was "actively assisting" Americans affected by the quake, according to the US embassy in Bogota. World Central Kitchen founder Jose Andres said his organization's disaster-relief network had been "activated" to deploy emergency food aid, with response director Juan Camilo Jimenez telling CNN the group would work with local restaurants already operating in the area to provide meals. The Colombian Geological Service recorded 21 aftershocks by late Monday and warned more were likely.

HOT:» Bulgaria's Summer Ritual: We Kill Each Other on the Roads, Then We Forget At least 132 people have beenkilledand 570 injured after a magnitude 7.4earthquakestruck western Colombia, bringing down buildings in several major cities and prompting the government to declare a national state of emergency. Theearthquakestruck at 7:34 a.m. local time on Monday, with its epicenter in the San Jose del Palmar area of Choco, near the borders with Valle del Cauca and Risaralda. The U.S. Geological Survey put the depth at about 107 kilometers, while the Colombian Geological Service described it as the strongestearthquakerecorded in the country in the 21st century. At least 21 aftershocks were reported within hours. The Colombian Association of Capital Cities reported at least 132 deaths and 570 injuries across the affected regions. Early figures from President Abelardo de la Espriella had put the toll at 111 dead and 87 injured, with 61 buildings collapsed. The worstdamagewas reported in the western departments of Cauca, Risaralda, Valle del Cauca, Choco, Caldas and Quindio. At least 60 people were reportedkilledin Cauca and 40 in Risaralda in the various preliminary counts, while Valle del Cauca recorded at least 27 deaths. Choco, which contains the epicenter, reported at least 12 deaths and 84 injuries, although communications outages made it difficult to establish the full extent of the damage. Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, was among the hardest-hit areas. Local authorities said at least 20 buildings collapsed and about 380 others were damaged, with people feared trapped beneath the rubble. Rescue teams and residents worked together to search destroyed structures and remove debris. “All of us neighbors are working together, forming human chains. We need heavy equipment. There are many people trapped,”Juan Carlos Osorio told Caracol Television while helping clear debris in Cali. The city's mayor, Alejandro Eder, said authorities were working first to determine the extent of thedamageand then concentrate on rescue operations. He urged residents to inspect their homes and leave buildings showing serious structural damage. Pereira, the capital of Risaralda, also suffered extensive destruction. The city's mayor, Mauricio Salazar, said at least 15 collapsed buildings were believed to contain trapped people. Hospitals were overwhelmed with injured residents, while footage from the city showed parts of an airport ceiling falling as passengers sought shelter. Manizales was also badly affected. Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas Giraldo said at least 12 buildings and 20 homes were partially or completely destroyed. Part of the city's landmark neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed, while other footage showed buildings giving way. “Do not go back into the buildings yet. I know this isn't easy, but stay outside for a little while at least because there could be an aftershock,”Rojas Giraldo warned residents. The quake also caused widespread power and mobile communications outages. Aviation authorities suspended operations at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura while engineers inspected the facilities for structural damage. In Choco, authorities reported severedamagein the department's capital, Quibdo, while community leaders said many people were still missing. The disruption to communications in the region complicated efforts to assess casualties and organize the response. The scale of the disaster prompted authorities in Cali, Pereira and Caldas to impose curfews, partly because of concerns about looting and partly to allow emergency crews to work without obstruction. Cali's mayor ordered the deployment of police and military personnel and said the city would receive additional rescue and security forces. President de la Espriella, who took office only days before theearthquake, declared a national state of emergency and said the government had mobilized all available resources. “The national government has all of its capabilities deployed to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver aid wherever it is needed. The first priority is rescuing the people trapped under the rubble,”he said. The president traveled to Quibdo and later to Cali to oversee the response. His government said representatives would coordinate unified command posts in the affected areas, while additional rescue workers and armed forces personnel were being sent to Cali. De la Espriella also promised rent assistance for people who had lost their homes. Theearthquakewas felt well beyond the epicenter, including in neighboring Ecuador and Panama. Colombia lies along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire, although earthquakes stronger than magnitude 6 are relatively uncommon. A magnitude 6.2earthquakenear Armenia in 1999killedmore than 1,100 people. Seismologists said the depth of Monday'searthquakedid not prevent it from causing severe shaking. Northwestern University seismologist Suzan van der Lee said its magnitude, inland location and movement along the fault may have contributed to the extensivedamagein populated valleys. “This one was far below the crust, and in theory, it shouldn't cause as much shaking. At this magnitude, it did actually cause a lot of shaking,”she told Reuters. The disaster came only weeks after devastating earthquakes struck neighboring Venezuela, killing more than 5,000 people according to the supplied reports. The events have renewed concerns across the region aboutearthquakepreparedness and emergency response. International assistance began arriving in the form of pledges. The United States announced .5 million in emergency aid for shelter, food and otherearthquakeresponse needs. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was closely monitoring the situation and was ready to support Colombia. El Salvador, Mexico, Chile, Israel, Ecuador and France also offered assistance. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said her country was ready to provide whatever support Colombia required, while Chilean President Jose Antonio Kast said his country understood the challenges caused by major earthquakes and was prepared to help. Search and rescue operations continued as authorities worked to determine the full extent of the destruction and locate people still missing. The immediate priority remained rescuing survivors from collapsed structures while engineers assessed damaged buildings and infrastructure across western Colombia. US President Donald Trump reportedly left Turkey on a secret military flight in July after US officials received a credible threat from Iran, rather than departing on the older Air Force One aircraft that had been publicly announced by the White House, Th Russia’s Supreme Court has barred the country’s only officially registered anti-war party, Yabloko, from participating in the parliamentary elections scheduled for September, just five days after the party was cleared to run Russian forces launched a large-scale overnight attack on Ukraine, striking Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia with ballistic and anti-ship missiles, guided aerial bombs and more than 120 drones, including jet-powered Shahed variants, Ukrainian authorities said A WHO humanitarian warehouse in Dnipro, Ukraine, has been struck twice in less than 24 hours. The warehouse held emergency health supplies bound for front-line health facilities. Everything was destroyed. No casualties were reported Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen have reaffirmed their opposition to what they described as “uncontrolled immigration,” calling for tougher measures against illegal migration and the creation of return cent Romania's only operating reactor at the Cernavoda nuclear power plant has enough water to continue operating for another nine days, authorities said, as record-low Danube levels have forced emergency measures to secure the cooling supply Revealed: How Bulgaria Has Been Arming Ukraine for Four Years Mystery EU Objection Blocks Bulgaria’s First €2 Commemorative Coin

At least 132 people have died and 570 have been injured after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, CNN reported Pereira recorded the highest number of fatalities, while 86 buildings collapsed and several airports suspended operations following the quake The Colombian government has deployed resources for rescue and relief operations, while the US has committed $15 million in emergency assistance At least 132 people have died and 570 have been injured following a 7.4-magnitude earthquake in Colombia on Monday (local time), CNN reported, citing the Colombian Association of Capital Cities. The association, which participated in a disaster response meeting with the President, said the city of Pereira alone has reported 60 deaths. The epicenter was located in San José del Palmar, in an underdeveloped area of western Colombia, about 150 miles west of Bogotá. People in the capital felt tremors and evacuated to the streets, with alarms blaring. Several Areas Report Damage Coombian President Abelardo De La Espriella said that in Cali and Valle del Cauca, the government’s priority remains to stand with the affected families and missing people. He further said that in Choco, immediate economic resources and humanitarian aid have already been allocated to support the more than 1,400 affected families and individuals. The injured and those requiring priority medical attention are being transferred to Medellín with all available hospital capacity. Additionally, temporary rental subsidies will be implemented for families whose homes were damaged. The impact of the earthquake is being felt across the region, including Ecuador and Venezuela, which was recently hit by a high-impact earthquake. Buildings collapsed after the earthquake struck near San Jose del Palmar, causing injuries and damage in Quibdo, as well as evacuations across nine departments. Residents in Cali were searching through the rubble. Rescue Operations Underway According to the association, five capital cities across the country are under a red alert. It added that 86 buildings have collapsed and operations at seven airports have been suspended, CNN reported. Governor of Chocó, Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi, said that 13 people are reported dead in Choco. Although the epicenter was in San José del Palmar, in the capital Quibdó there are injuries and severe damage to buildings and she raised a question about the possibility of aftershocks. Among the collapsed structures were the pediatric and neonatal sections of a hospital in Cali, as per CNN, and the government has declared a national disaster and deployed soldiers to the area. Pereira municipality recorded the highest fatalities and a building collapsed in the city’s Bolivar Plaza. Meanwhile, the US’ department of State committed $15 million in funding for emergency shelter, food, protection, and earthquake assessments. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, “The Trump Administration is closely monitoring the large earthquake that struck Colombia and stands ready to support the people of Colombia”. The US Embassy in Bogota issued advisory and asked the citizens to exercise caution regarding falling debris and unstable structures and activated helpline numbers for assistance.

In light of the devastating earthquake in Colombia Monday morning, many of the country’s biggest stars are calling for support. J Balvin, Maluma, Shakira, Karol G, and more are using their platforms to call attention to the aid and recovery efforts. Colombia was hit by a 7.4-magnitude earthquake where the epicenter was reportedly close to San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. The effects of the natural disaster were far-reaching, with reports of collapsed buildings, injuries, and deaths in the cities of Cali, Armenia, Manizales, Pereira, and Quibdó. The reported death toll is at least 111. Since then, Colombia’s singers and entertainers have expressed words of support for the people affected by this tragedy. In his Instagram stories, J Balvin wrote in Spanish, “Much strength with the situation of the earthquake in Colombia [and] strength to all the people and families affected. We’re going to move quickly to help with the situation.” In his Instagram stories, Maluma also shared a message of strength. In Spanish, he wrote, “It is heartbreaking, everything that is happening in Colombia, a hug from the heart to all the victims’ families and we’re here to help.” J Balvin, Maluma, Ryan Castro, Manuel Turizo, and many other artists have shared a link to donate to an organization called Colombia Se Levanta, which is providing support to families affected by the earthquake. Shakira shared a message about the situation in a post on X. In Spanish, she wrote, “Beloved Colombia, my heart is with everyone who felt this earthquake today and with the families who are going through moments of anguish. In times like these, we Colombians know how to come together and support one another. All my strength and love for my homeland. Let’s embrace tightly and stay tuned to the instructions so we can help as soon as possible.” Karol G wrote on Instagram Stories: “In moments like these, we come together, care for one another, and support each other as a country. My solidarity, my heart, and my prayers are with everyone affected by the earthquake in Colombia and with the many families facing pain and uncertainty today.” The star tagged the Con Cora Foundation and said the organization is working find the best way to support the affected families. Karol also shared a link to where people can make a contribution to those in need. Some Colombian artists like Juan Duque and Emyl Rusev are even offering their Instagram accounts to post about families looking for loved ones that have disappeared in the earthquake. There’s also a resource page available called Colombia Te Busca to help find people that have gone missing.

Un fuerte terremoto de 7,4 en el noroeste de Colombia deja 132 muertos y más de 500 heridos y 80 edificios derrumbados - El sismo se ha registrado en San José del Palmar, un municipio situado entre Medellín, Bogotá y Cali - El presidente Abelardo de la Espriella ha declarado emergencia nacional Al menos 132 personas han muerto y más de 500 han resultado heridas en Colombia, según un balance parcial de la Asociación Colombiana de Ciudades Capitales (Asocapitales), tras ser golpeada por un terremoto de magnitud 7,4 y 107 kilómetros de profundidad, recogido por el Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos. Ha tenido como epicentro San José del Palmar, un municipio junto a la costa del Pacífico, al noroeste del país, situado entre las tres grandes ciudades de Medellín, Bogotá y Cali. El temblor se ha registrado alrededor de las 07:34, hora local del lunes (14:34 hora peninsular española). Cuando gran parte de Colombia se preparaba para acudir a sus trabajos o a la escuela, los ciudadanos han notado cómo el movimiento telúrico sacudía sus calles y edificios. "El estallido ha sonado como una bomba", han narrado los vecinos a las televisiones locales. Hasta ahora, en Pereira, capital del departamento de Risaralda, se han registrado 60 fallecidos, siendo la región más afectada; Valle del Cauca contabiliza 35 muertos; en Manizales, en el departamento de Caldas, al menos tres; y en Quibdó, Chocó, se han comunicado 13 víctimas mortales. El presidente colombiano, Abelardo de la Espriella, que tomó posesión el pasado viernes, ha declarado la emergencia nacional: "El Gobierno nacional ha desplegado todas sus capacidades para proteger vidas, ayudar a las comunidades afectadas y proporcionar asistencia allí donde sea necesaria", ha declarado durante un mensaje a la nación, antes de viajar a Chocó y a Cali. "La primera prioridad es rescatar a las personas atrapadas bajo los escombros", ha resaltado. Las principales capitales del occidente y del Eje Cafetero han declarado medidas de excepción, militarización y toques de queda nocturnos. Desde Cali, De la Espriella ha informado que solo allí hasta el momento hay "35 fallecidos y aproximadamente 700 heridos", así como 188 desaparecidos, además de tres hospitales colapsados, 18 hospitales con daños, 39 centros educativos afectados y el aeropuerto sufrió algunos daños, razón por la cual las operaciones están restringidas. Además, el mandatario ha asegurado que hay "cerca de 5.000 viviendas aproximadamente averiadas y colapsadas", durante un balance entregado al finalizar una reunión con las autoridades de la ciudad, lo que hace alentar que las cifras generales a nivel nacional sigan creciendo. Más de 180 rescatistas El Ejército colombiano ha desplegado más de 180 rescatistas para buscar a personas que hayan quedado bajo los escombros de los edificios afectados por el terremoto. "Son 180 soldados, distribuidos en cinco pelotones de 36 integrantes cada uno, que serán movilizados desde (las bases militares de) Bogotá y Tolemaida hacia las zonas priorizadas de acuerdo con los reportes de afectaciones y los requerimientos de las autoridades y organismos de socorro", ha asegurado el Ejército en un comunicado. De los cinco pelotones, tres están destinados a la zona cafetera del país, una de las más afectadas por el terremoto; otro irá al departamento del Chocó, epicentro del sismo en la región pacífica; y el otro restante irá a Cali, capital del departamento de Valle del Cauca, que registra al menos 15 muertos y 380 heridos. Los equipos de rescate cuentan con drones, cámaras térmicas, sensores de movimiento, trípodes, camillas, canastillas y herramientas para la remoción de escombros, agregó la institución. A su vez, Venezuela ha ofrecido a Colombia el envío de rescatistas y de ayuda humanitaria. "Hemos puesto a disposición del Gobierno de Colombia nuestros brigadistas para el rescate de las personas que están bajo escombros (...) y estamos a la espera de que Colombia diga para ir a brindar el apoyo solidario de nuestro pueblo", ha dicho la presidenta encargada Delcy Rodríguez durante una jornada de rehabilitación de escuelas afectadas por los terremotos ocurridos en junio en Venezuela. Un momento "paralizador" "Nos quedamos paralizados, no nos podíamos mover, con los dos bebés en brazos", ha narrado Santiago Uribe, periodista colombiano, a RTVE. Algo similar describe Ana María Tabares, una vecina de Pueblo Tapao, en Quindío: "Yo me desmayé, las piernas no me daban. Hubo un familiar que me consiguió reanimar. Gracias a Dios estamos en el campo", cuenta. Las zonas más afectadas de este seísmo se encuentran dentro del eje cafetero, una región geográfica que incluye los departamentos de Caldas, Risaralda y Quindío, zonas de gran tradición cafetera y Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO. A pesar de que el país ha adaptado sus edificaciones para este tipo de movimientos sísmicos gracias a un cambio de legislación, las autoridades han reportado 1.575 viviendas dañadas, 37 completamente destruidas y más de 80 edificaciones colapsadas: "Hasta ahora, contabilizamos 10 estructuras dañadas en el departamento de Chocó, 12 en Caldas, 15 en Risaralda, 14 en Valle del Cauca y 12 en Quindío", ha detallado Gabriel Camero, vicepresidente de Cruz Roja Colombia, en declaraciones a RTVE. En Pereira, una de las ciudades más afectadas y capital del departamento de Risaralda, numerosas edificaciones han sufrido daños en su estructura y algunas se han derrumbado parcialmente. Se trata de una ciudad muy turística y la más poblada de la región del eje cafetero. En Manizales, una de las torres de su catedral ha sufrido graves daños. Alejandro Eder, alcalde de Cali, ciudad del Valle del Cauca, ha confirmado que varias de las edificaciones que han quedado colapsadas tenían a personas atrapadas en su interior: "La ciudad ha solicitado equipos de Bogotá y Medellín para ayudar en las labores de rescate", ha añadido. Por su parte, el alcalde de Bogotá, Carlos Fernando Galán, ha señalado que, de momento, "no hay reporte de afectaciones ni daños estructurales, solo algunas grietas en edificios", informa EFE. La gobernadora del estado de Chocó, donde se encuentra San José del Palmar, Nubia Carolina Córdoba, ha señalado en un mensaje publicado en X que se han registrado heridos e importantes desperfectos en edificaciones. "Acabamos de pasar un grave evento sísmico en el departamento del Chocó. Nos preocupan las réplicas. Aunque el epicentro fue San José del Palmar, en la capital Quibdó hay heridos y graves daños en las edificaciones. Ya estamos haciendo la evaluación de daños para emitir el primer reporte oficial", reza el mensaje que ha publicado en redes sociales. De la Espriella ha anunciado a través de sus redes sociales que su administración ha ordenado la instalación de un Puesto de Mando Unificado para coordinar la atención de daños. ““ El Servicio Geológico Colombiano ha confirmado que el seísmo poseía una magnitud 7,4 en la escala de Richter, a pesar de que al inicio del suceso la institución había establecido 6,6. La Unidad Nacional para la Gestión del Riesgo de Desastres afirma que ha recibido informes de nueve departamentos y de las 32 capitales departamentales donde se ha sentido el movimiento telúrico. La Autoridad de Aviación de Colombia ha reportado daños en los aeropuertos de Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago y Buenaventura. El terremoto se ha sentido también en Venezuela, Ecuador y Panamá, donde ha provocado la evacuación de edificios y hospitales. El Consulado de España en Bogotá ha emitido un comunicado en redes sociales en el que informan de las vías de emergencias para comunicarse y ha recomendado seguir las recomendaciones de seguridad e informarse por fuentes oficiales. Afirman que no se tiene constancia de españoles afectados: "Se recomienda a los españoles en Colombia seguir en todo momento las indicaciones de las autoridades locales y la información y contactos en las redes sociales de la embajada de España y del Consulado General", han comunicado fuentes de Exteriores. ¿Cuándo se considera un terremoto mayor? Cuando un seísmo se encuentra entre la magnitud 7,0 y 7,9 es considerado terremoto mayor, como es el caso. Se producen aproximadamente 18 al año. El doble terremoto que sacudió Venezuela el pasado 24 de junio, que acabó con la vida de más de 6.000 personas, registró magnitudes de 7,2 y 7,5. Mensajes de solidaridad Son varios los dirigentes y políticos que han manifestado su apoyo tras la tragedia. En España, el presidente Pedro Sánchez ha trasladado "todo el cariño y solidaridad con el pueblo colombiano": "Nuestro pensamiento está con las víctimas, sus familias y todas las personas afectadas. España está con Colombia en estos momentos tan difíciles". El ministro de Exteriores, José Manuel Albares, ha mostrado su solidaridad con el "pueblo hermano" y ha hecho saber que el consulado está movilizado para ayudar a los españoles en Colombia. Por su parte, la presidenta de la Comisión Europea, Ursula von der Leyen, ha comunicado que el servicio de satélites Copernicus ha sido movilizado para ayudar en las operaciones de rescate: "El corazón de Europa está con el pueblo de Colombia tras el terrible terremoto en la región del Chocó". Daniel Noboa, presidente de Ecuador, ha trasladado "toda su solidaridad con Colombia y con las familias afectadas por el sismo": "Colombia, Ecuador está con ustedes. Ponemos a su disposición nuestro equipo: 47 rescatistas, canes especializados y equipos con autonomía para operar durante 7 días. Estamos listos para movilizarnos cuando lo requieran". Marco Rubio, secretario de Estado de los Estados Unidos, ha asegurado que la administración Trump está monitoreando el terremoto y está "lista para apoyar al pueblo de Colombia": "Los ciudadanos estadounidenses en Colombia deberían registrarse en STEP.State.gov y seguir las cuentas de redes sociales de @USEmbassyBogota para mantenerse informados sobre las últimas novedades". Destinará más de 13 millones de euros a financiar refugios de emergencia, alimentos, medidas de protección y evaluaciones de daños Otro de los mandatarios que se ha acordado del pueblo colombiano ha sido José Raul Mulino, presidente de Panamá. "Nuestra solidaridad con Colombia. En lo que se requiera, estamos dispuestos a colaborar dentro de nuestra capacidad. Ánimo a todos". La líder opositora venezolana, María Corina Machado, ha comunicado su solidaridad y ha puntualizado que el seísmo ha afectado a varias zonas del país: "Los venezolanos, que hemos sufrido el impacto devastador de los sismos, acompañamos de corazón a las familias afectadas", ha afirmado. El líder brasileño Lula da Silva ha hecho saber que Brasil "permanece a disposición de Colombia para brindar el apoyo necesario". Keiko Fujimori, presidenta de Perú, ha lamentado "profundamente" las pérdidas y ha hecho llegar sus condolencias a las familias afectadas: "Al presidente Abelardo de la Espriella y a todo el pueblo de Colombia, les hago llegar nuestra disposición para ayudar. El Perú está con ustedes".

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 132 people – according to the government’s death toll Tuesday – leaving many trapped under debris while their loved ones and rescuers searched through rubble. Search teams and civilians picked through the remains of hundreds of destroyed buildings in the country’s third-largest city, Cali, passing large pieces of concrete and other rubble down a long line of volunteers. “Our building has basically been left in ruins, and the building next to ours? Completely collapsed,” said Álvaro López, who cradled his dog as he watched the search. The desperate scene recalled the searches still ongoing in neighbouring Venezuela weeks after that country was devastated by two powerful earthquakes. Besides Cali, the quake ravaged cities across western Colombia, including Pereira, Quibdo and Manizales, and was felt in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama. The epicentre was in San Jose del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region about 250 miles (400km) west of Bogota, the United States Geological Survey said. Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella declared an emergency to expedite funding for the quake recovery. “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,” he said. Colombia’s Geological Service said Monday’s quake was the country’s strongest recorded “in the 21st century”, and that it was followed by several aftershocks. Colombia’s Pacific region around the epicentre lies along the “Ring of Fire”, the line of seismic faults encircling the Pacific Ocean where most of the world’s earthquakes occur. The Pacific, particularly the Choco region, is one of Colombia’s poorest, nestled in dense jungle. Much of Choco is only reachable by boat or plane, which may make it difficult to assess the wider toll. Local authorities had said Monday the death toll included at least 40 people who were 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. Authorities also confirmed nine people killed in Choco, two in the Caldas region and a 73-year-old in the Antioquia region. The earthquakes left many in the Andean nation unnerved after two back-to-back quakes devastated neighbouring Venezuela in late June, destroying hundreds of buildings and killing more than 6,300 people. By Monday afternoon, people had begun reporting their loved ones missing on digital databases just as civilians did following Venezuela’s earthquakes. One database had more than 2,000 people, mostly in Cali and Pereira, with the number steadily climbing. Photos of the missing included a young mother and her baby in Pereira; another showed an 80-year-old woman in Cali whose family was desperately looking for details after her building collapsed. Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver in Cali, said he saw plumes of dust shoot up across the city as buildings collapsed. “My entire house shook. I’ve never lived through such a powerful earthquake,” he said. “We’re thanking God we’re alive.” Little was known about the extent of the damage in Choco, a remote region where officials reported dozens of injured people and damaged buildings but few other details. Phone signals were out in many parts of the region’s capital, Quibdo. The town closest to the earthquake’s epicentre, San Jose del Palmar, has no airport and sits on a mountain ridge along a highway linking the cities of Cali and Pereira. In Pereira, further south in the coffee-producing mountains of Colombia, photos and videos on local media showed pieces of the airport ceiling falling onto travellers taking shelter and screaming. People ran through rubble and plumes of dust, and residents said collapsed stores, residential buildings and homes lined the city. In nearby Manizales, one of the towers of the neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed and fell on the nave. Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas asked residents to stay outside in case of aftershocks. Authorities said flights were suspended at the airports in Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Pereira as they assessed damage. Small earthquakes, known as “temblores”, are common in central and western Colombia, but those above 6.0 magnitude are rare. In 1999, a 6.2 magnitude quake near the city of Armenia killed more than 1,100 people. Response to the earthquake presents the first major challenge for de la Espriella, a Trump ally who was sworn in as president over the weekend. A divisive figure because of his pledge of an all-out crackdown on criminal groups, de la Espriella said he had personally taken charge of the government’s response to the emergency. On Monday night, the US State Department announced it would provide US$15.5 million (HK$121.61 million) for emergency shelter, food and other earthquake response aid. Governments across Latin America also lined up to help. El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum – whose countries were among the largest providers of aid to Venezuela following its recent crisis – said they were ready to assist Colombia. Chilean President José Antonio Kast said Chile, one of the region’s most earthquake-prone countries, “knows the pain and the challenge left by earthquakes” and also pledged help.

Pereira reported 60 deaths and emerged as the worst-hit city, according to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities, following a disaster response meeting with President Gustavo Petro. Also Read: Colombia earthquake: 111 dead, 87 injured as 7.4-magnitude quake devastates Choco; national emergency declared The city of around 500,000 people lies less than 64 km from the earthquake's epicentre. Tremors were felt across large parts of Colombia, including the capital Bogota, where alarms sounded as people evacuated buildings and gathered on the streets as a precaution. By Monday afternoon, people had begun reporting missing relatives on digital databases, as they had after previous earthquakes in Venezuela. One database listed more than 2,000 missing people, most of them from Cali and Pereira, with the number continuing to rise. Patients trapped as hospital collapses in Cali Rescue teams were searching for patients trapped under rubble after parts of a hospital in Cali, western Colombia, collapsed in the earthquake.Sections of Cali's University Hospital, including its pediatrics department, “have collapsed,” Valle del Cauca Governor Dilian Francisca Toro told local media. “Consequently, there are people trapped,” she said in a video posted on X, adding that firefighters and the army were “working to get them”. About 30% of the hospital's infrastructure collapsed, including three floors housing pediatrics, internal medicine and part of the neonatal unit, hospital manager Irne Torres Castro told reporters. Also Read: Colombia earthquake: The quakes that killed 70,000 people 158 years ago — all about the devastating 1868 Colombia-Ecuador disaster At least four people were rescued from the rubble, according to the Cali government. Several patients were evacuated and treated in the hospital gardens, while others were transferred to nearby health facilities. The University Hospital was among several healthcare institutions in Cali that were closed and evacuated after sustaining structural damage, the local government said. Earthquake disrupts flights across western Colombia The quake also disrupted air travel across western Colombia, with several airports closed or operating under restrictions as authorities assessed damage to infrastructure.The civil aviation authority said airports serving Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura were being used only for medical and government flights while inspections were under way. Operations at Quibdo were also affected by the earthquake. The restrictions added to the challenges facing emergency responders, particularly in remote parts of Choco, where damaged infrastructure and difficult terrain could hamper rescue teams trying to reach affected communities. Aviation authorities said their teams were supporting local officials, including by providing firefighting and search-and-rescue capabilities, while engineers inspected airport facilities. Passengers affected by cancellations or disruptions were advised to contact their airlines. Authorities said normal operations would resume once airport infrastructure was deemed safe. US announces $15.5 million in aid The United States will provide $15.5 million in aid to Colombia for shelter, food, protection and earthquake assessments following the magnitude 7.4 quake, the State Department announced on X.“We are united in prayer with the Colombian people and stand ready to support President (Abelardo de la Espriella) and his government as they assess the needs on the ground,” the State Department said. Colombia braces for aftershocks Colombia lies along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences thousands of earthquakes each month, most of them minor.The Colombian Geological Service said 21 aftershocks had been recorded by late Monday and warned that more tremors were possible. The country's coffee-growing region was devastated by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake in 1999 that killed more than 1,000 people, with Armenia and Pereira among the worst-hit areas. (With inputs from Times of India)

Mapa: un terremoto de magnitud 7,4 sacude Colombia Un sismo notablemente fuerte de magnitud 7,4 golpeó Colombia el lunes, según el Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos (USGS, por sus siglas en inglés). El temblor ocurrió a las 7:34 a. m., hora de Colombia, a aproximadamente 5 kilómetros al este de San José del Palmar, Colombia, según muestra la información de la agencia. Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi, gobernadora del departamento de Chocó, informó en redes sociales que hubo heridos y daños graves en edificios de Quibdó, la capital de la región, donde viven unas 140.000 personas. El terremoto se sintió hasta en Bogotá e incluso en algunas zonas de la vecina Venezuela, pero no se reportaron daños ni heridos en esos lugares. Conforme los sismólogos revisen la información disponible, podrían modificar la magnitud reportada del sismo. La información recopilada adicionalmente sobre el sismo podría provocar que los científicos del USGS actualicen el mapa de la severidad del movimiento. Réplicas en la región Una réplica es usualmente un sismo menor que sigue a uno mayor en la misma área. Típicamente, las réplicas son acomodos menores a lo largo de la porción de la falla que se deslizó en el momento del sismo inicial. Sismos y réplicas en un radio de 160 km Las réplicas pueden ocurrir días, semanas o incluso años después del primer sismo. Estos sucesos pueden ser de una magnitud igual o mayor que el sismo inicial, y pueden seguir afectando a lugares ya dañados. Cuándo ocurrieron los sismos y las réplicas Fuente: Servicio Geológico de Estados Unidos | Notas: Las categorías del movimiento están basadas en la escala de intensidad modificada de Mercalli. Cuando está disponible la información de una réplica, los mapas y tablas correspondientes incluyen sismos dentro de 160 kilómetros y siete días desde el sismo inicial. Todos los horarios arriba están en hora de Colombia. La información del movimiento es del lunes, 10 de agto. a las 8:50 a. m., hora del este. La información de las réplicas es del martes 11 de agto. a las 12:35 a. m. hora del este.

First Alert: WCK Responding to Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake in Colombia WCK is responding in Colombia, where a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Pacific coast. The regions of Chocó, Cali, Pereira, and Manizales have all felt the impact, and search and rescue efforts are underway. WCK teams and local partners are working to serve meals to people in need as quickly as possible. WCK has deep connections in Colombia. When low-lying areas of the Córdoba department flooded in February, WCK teams worked side by side with our longtime local partners like Fundación Gastronomía Social to serve meals to families forced out of their homes. During that time, Chef Corps Member Harry Sasson also joined us on the ground to help cook for his community. This remains a quickly evolving situation. You can sign up to our newsletter to receive more information and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for real time updates. Support our efforts in Colombia

The epicenter of the 7.4-magnitude earthquake on Monday in Colombia was in the area of San José del Palmar, an impoverished rural municipality in Chocó, near the Pacific Ocean. Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella declared his first national emergency and traveled to a new command post in Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, which has the largest population of Black Colombians. “I will be at the forefront of this national emergency, traveling the country tirelessly to make the immediate decisions,” said De La Espriella, who took office on Friday. There were at least 132 dead and 570 injured, according to the government’s latest death toll. Officials also estimated that at least 61 buildings had collapsed. “The injured and those requiring priority medical attention are being transferred to Medellín,” De La Espriella said, adding the city had enough hospital capacity. De La Espriella’s administration established the main command post in Bogotá, the country’s capital, and command posts in western Colombia. De La Espriella’s team set up a command post in Armenia, the capital city of Quindío, famous for its coffee farms in the heart of the Andes mountains. There was also a command post in Cali, the capital of salsa dancing, and where De La Espriella took his oath of office and delivered his first presidential speech. In Pereira, the capital of Risaralda, known as the coffee axis, search-and-rescue teams responded to collapsed buildings. In Manizales, a city in the coffee-growing region of Caldas, the historic Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary partially collapsed. Related reports - Earthquake in Colombia likely caused less damage than June quakes in Venezuela, geophysicist says - Global Empowerment Mission asks for cash donations to help quake victims in Colombia Copyright 2026 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.