At least 111 people were killed on Monday after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, causing buildings to collapse and triggering large-scale rescue operations across multiple cities.
In addition to fatalities, at least 87 people are injured, President Abelardo De La Espriella told reporters.
He said the disaster caused damage to 1,575 homes, with 37 completely destroyed, 61 collapsed buildings, 18 damaged health centres, 52 damaged educational centres, 17 damaged community centres, and 18 damaged roads.
The Colombian government has declared a national disaster situation to strengthen the mobilisation and coordination of institutional capacities to address the emergency.
Tsunami fears allayed
The earthquake took place at 12:34GMT, with an epicentre located approximately 5 kilometres east of the town of San Jose del Palmar, according to data from the US Geological Survey. The US agency reported that the earthquake originated at a depth of 107 kilometres.
An aftershock of magnitude 5.0 struck at 13:18GMT approximately 16 kilometres west of San Jose del Palmar. The municipality, located in the Choco Department, has a population of some 4,800 and sits 1,288 metres (4,225 feet) above sea level.
Despite the significant strength of the quake, the US Tsunami Warning System announced that no tsunami is expected for the US states of California, Oregon, Washington or Alaska and also ruled out one hitting the Canadian province of British Columbia.
Colombian authorities said there is no tsunami threat to the Colombian Pacific.
Action being taken, Colombian president says
“The state is present and taking action,” Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella said following the earthquake, confirming that he took direct leadership of the emergency response. He ordered the immediate establishment of a unified command post to coordinate response efforts.
De La Espriella requested a comprehensive report from the director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management on the situation in the town, situated roughly 240 kilometres west of the capital, Bogota.
The president said he will travel to Pereira to support those affected and monitor the government's response, but later said he is heading to the capital, Bogota, to focus on addressing the emergency.
Fatalities, as of 11:30 am local time, included 40 in Risaralda, 27 in Valle del Cauca, and four in Choco, according to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities (Asocapitales).
Buildings damaged
Pereira Mayor Mauricio Salazar confirmed that at least 18 fatalities occurred in the city.
In Valle del Cauca, Governor Dilian Francisca said at least 27 people have been reported dead.
In Manizales, Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas reported at least two deaths and the total or partial destruction of over 32 buildings. Authorities in Manizales have suspended all academic activities and reported gas and electrical leaks.
In Quibdo, preliminary reports indicate one person was killed, in addition to injured people and severely damaged buildings.
Airport damaged
In Choco, four people have been reported dead and 69 others injured following the earthquake, Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi said.
Colombia’s civil aviation authority reported damage to Cali's Alfonso Bonilla Aragon Airport, adding it to the list of affected terminals. Furthermore, air operations at Popayan Airport were suspended due to volcanic ash from the Purace volcano following the seismic activity. Previously, operations were halted at terminals in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura for structural assessments.
The governor of Choco, Curi, confirmed that the departmental capital, Quibdo, sustained severe structural damage.
Firefighters in Quibdo reported that individuals are trapped inside damaged structures, while Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder stated that at least 20 buildings collapsed in his city, with people trapped inside.
Iconic cathedral also damaged
In Manizales, the capital of Caldas department, the quake caused significant destruction. Images on social media showed one of the main towers of the city's iconic cathedral sustaining severe structural failure, leaning against the central structure.
Medellin Mayor Federico Gutierrez confirmed that municipal disaster risk management teams are actively conducting damage assessments.
In Bogota, emergency sirens sounded as thousands of office workers and residents evacuated into the streets. Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan said the capital has no serious structural damage and is ready to assist the cities most affected by the earthquake, with 100 rescuers already prepared to head to the region.
The National Infrastructure Agency said the Sumapaz tunnel and the Mariano Ospina bridge are currently closed while inspections are carried out to assess the state of the infrastructure.
Neighbouring countries feel quake effects
The earthquake’s reach extended well beyond Colombia’s borders, with strong shaking reported in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama.
Authorities across affected departments continue to evaluate the full extent of the casualties and physical damage.
According to experts, this is one of the strongest earthquakes of the century in the country.
The US Embassy in Bogota said it was closely monitoring the situation, urging American citizens to stay alert to local news and maintain communication with their families. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration is "closely monitoring" the earthquake and stands ready to support the people of Colombia.
