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7.4 Quake Hits Colombia
A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, killing more than 100 people and damaging buildings and infrastructure across several cities.
“A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, killing more than 100 people”
Footage filmed by Carlos Palacio on Monday showed the aftermath in Manizales, where at least two people were killed, and Palacio wrote, “God, please lend a hand.”
The quake struck at around 7:30 am local time on Monday, and it was felt across much of Colombia, with Manizales, Pereira, Cali, Armenia, and Quibdo among the cities reporting significant impacts.
Vatican News said Pope Léon XIV expressed that he was “profondément attristé” by the magnitude 7,4 tremor that hit Monday 10 août la Colombie, making more than 130 morts and more de 500 blessés.
The Vatican message also said the earthquake caused “d’importants dégâts aux infrastructures de plusieurs villes et de nombreuses églises,” and it urged prayers for “un prompt rétablissement des personnes touchées.”
Casualties, Injuries, and Response
Telemundo Miami (51) said that a terremoto de magnitud 7.4 sacudió Colombia este lunes and that at least 132 muertes se registraban, según el presidente Abelardo de la Espriella, with 570 heridos reported.
It also said authorities reported graves daños in at least five departamentos, with Pereira, Manizales, and Cali among the cities most affected.
RTVE.es reported that a balance parcial de la Asociación Colombiana de Ciudades Capitales (Asocapitales) put the toll at 132 muertos and more than 500 heridos after the 7,4 sismo, and it said the president Abelardo de la Espriella declared la emergencia nacional.
RTVE.es quoted the president saying, “La primera prioridad es rescatar a las personas atrapadas bajo los escombros,” as the search continued.
The same RTVE.es report said the Ejército colombiano deployed more than 180 rescatistas, and it specified “Son 180 soldados, distribuidos en cinco pelotones de 36 integrantes cada uno.”
Aid, Monitoring, and Statements
RTVE.es said the United States announced the sending of a response team and that the State Department detailed on X that the Administration of Donald Trump and the U.S. Embassy in Bogotá were “en contacto directo” with the new Colombian president, Abelardo de la Espriella.
““en contacto directo” con el nuevo presidente colombiano, Abelardo de la Espriella”
Cadena SER reported that the president Abelardo de la Espriella thanked the Spanish Royal House for “solidaridad” and “cercanía” and said he shared “preocupación por cada una de las personas que aún permanecen desaparecidas.”
RTVE.es also quoted Switzerland’s readiness, saying Guy Parmelin told X on Monday that Switzerland is “ready to provide support if help proves necessary,” while the FDFA noted no Swiss citizen was among the deceased.
In the same Swiss coverage, the Swiss Red Cross said it was ready to assist “in support of the local Red Cross emergency response, mobilized from the first hours,” providing funds and specialized personnel.
The Lufkin Daily News page included a Reuters caption showing a woman lighting candles in the street in Manizales after the earthquake, with the image credited as “REUTERS/Andres Camilo Valencia.”
