Colombia Earthquake: Over 160 Dead and Hundreds Injured as Buildings Collapse
More than 480 people were injured in the quakes, with more feared trapped under collapsed buildings.
Casualties and Structural Collapse Across Regional Cities
The disaster heavily impacted several key municipalities, leaving local infrastructure severely compromised. In Pereira, Mayor Mauricio Salazar confirmed that 18 people died from the impact of the tremor, while Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas reported two fatalities in nearby Manizales, according to NBC News. Meanwhile, in Cali, Mayor Alejandro Eder stated that at least 20 buildings collapsed, leaving people trapped inside as emergency response teams established coordination tents.
Sunday marked the beginning of a weeklong festival celebrating Afro-Pacific culture, drawing hundreds of thousands of tourists to Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city. Taxi driver Luis Angel Sarria described the severity of the event to NBC News, noting that the quake felt very severe and left many buildings damaged or collapsed across the urban center.
Individual Accounts and Ongoing Search Operations
Rescue teams and volunteers intensified efforts to clear rubble and locate survivors trapped beneath fallen masonry. In Jamundí, located approximately 15 miles south of Cali, residents recounted harrowing escapes. Maria Alejandra Soto Zea told NBC News that she was inside her apartment with her 2-year-old son when the shaking intensified rapidly, forcing her to hold onto the kitchen counter for safety before evacuating down seven flights of stairs.
