Colombia Declares State of Emergency After 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Kills Over 100
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, leaving at least 111 people dead, injuring 87 others, and collapsing dozens of buildings across the region, according to the Colombian government and the US Geological Survey.
The tremor hit early Monday local time at a depth of 107 kilometers with an epicenter near San José del Palmar in the sparsely populated Pacific coast province of Chocó, according to the US Geological Survey. Newly sworn-in President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national emergency and stated that all government resources have been deployed to protect lives, assist affected communities, and deliver emergency aid.
Casualties and Structural Damage Across Regions
The hardest-hit area was the coffee-growing region of Risaralda, where Governor Juan Diego Patino reported 42 fatalities. In the provincial capital of Pereira, social media footage captured a building collapsing into a cloud of dust and debris. Nearby in Manizales, Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas confirmed three deaths, while images showed one of the towers of the city’s Gothic-style cathedral toppling over.
According to Buenaventura Mayor Ligia del Carmen Cordoba, one person died in the nation’s main Pacific port when a building collapsed. In Chocó, Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi reported significant damage and injuries in the capital of Quibdo. The Colombian geological agency noted the tremor was the strongest recorded in the country in a decade, prompting the Colombian civil aviation authority to suspend operations at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura for structural inspections.
International Response and Diplomatic Mobilization
Foreign governments and international bodies have begun mobilizing assistance for the disaster zone. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union has deployed its Copernicus satellite service to support ongoing rescue operations and warned that further assistance may be required. Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on social media that the United States is monitoring the situation and stands ready to support Colombia.
The disaster struck just days after President de la Espriella took office, thrusting his administration into an immediate crisis. The president interrupted travel to Bogota to direct emergency coordination from the capital. The Colombian Geological Service recorded 21 aftershocks following the initial quake, warning that further tremors remain likely across the affected departments.