A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, resulting in significant destruction and a death toll of at least 111 people.
Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella, who recently took office, announced he had "directly assumed leadership of the emergency response" via a post on X. He also stated he was traveling to the capital, Bogotá, to "focus on addressing the emergency facing our country." He addressed the affected population, saying, "To the Colombians who are going through difficult times today, I want to say: you are not alone... You have a President who cares deeply for his people and who will do everything necessary to protect you, support you, and move forward together in rebuilding the affected regions."
The earthquake's epicenter was near San José del Palmar, a community of 5,000 west of the capital in the Chocó region. Nearby cities, including Pereira, Manizales, and Cali, were also impacted. The seismic activity was felt in neighboring countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama.
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) reported the earthquake's magnitude at 7.4. The Colombian Geological Service indicated the quake occurred at a depth of approximately 103 kilometers, making it the strongest earthquake recorded in Colombia in the past decade. Two aftershocks, with magnitudes of 2.8 and 4.8, were recorded.
Authorities reported at least 111 fatalities, with the majority occurring in the Risaralda region, where at least 40 people died. The Valle del Cauca region reported at least 27 additional deaths. The president's office stated that at least 87 people were wounded.
Damage assessments are ongoing, but initial reports and visuals show collapsed buildings across multiple cities. Local officials have received numerous reports of individuals trapped beneath destroyed structures.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is monitoring the situation, with teams in Chocó reporting infrastructure damage, including to hospitals and clinics. Nicole Kast, IRC's Country Director for Colombia, Venezuela, and Ecuador, noted that the affected communities were already facing challenges from armed conflict and poverty. The IRC is prepared to increase its response as the full extent of the destruction becomes clearer.
Colombia's civil aviation authority reported damage at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura, leading to the suspension of operations for safety assessments.
The U.S. Tsunami Warning System confirmed there was no tsunami threat following the earthquake.
