Colombia quake kills 111, destroys 98 buildings

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday morning, killing at least 111 people and injuring 87 as buildings collapsed in cities including Cali. The quake’s epicenter was on the eastern edge of Chocó province on the Pacific coast. President Abelardo de la Espriella, just weeks into his term, declared a national state of emergency and took personal charge of the rescue effort, calling the search for trapped survivors the top priority. The disaster unfolded shortly after 12:30 local time, when authorities reported 1,575 homes damaged, 37 completely destroyed, 61 buildings collapsed, and damage to 18 health centers and 52 schools.

The quake hit at 1:14 a.m. local time, when most people were asleep. Its depth was relatively shallow, which amplified shaking on the surface and increased destruction. Colombia’s civil aviation authority later reported damage at seven airports—Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Cali—and suspended flights until engineers could assess the risk. The US Geological Survey measured the tremor at 7.4, a force strong enough to cause major structural damage in populated areas. Rescuers scrambled to reach survivors in the wreckage, while officials warned aftershocks could threaten already weakened buildings.

Local leaders described chaotic scenes. Cali’s mayor, Alejandro Eder, said at least 20 buildings had collapsed with people trapped inside and asked neighboring cities for specialized rescue teams. In Risaralda, officials reported 40 deaths, including 18 in the capital Pereira. Chocó, where the epicenter was located, recorded 12 fatalities and 84 injuries. The governor of Valle del Cauca, whose capital is Cali, initially reported 27 deaths before the president’s national count was released. President de la Espriella outlined the scale of destruction: 1,575 homes damaged, 37 destroyed, 61 buildings collapsed, and 70 public facilities affected.

The international community quickly pledged support. The European Union activated its Copernicus satellite service to help rescuers and Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, wrote on social media, “Tonight, Europe’s heart is with the people of Colombia.” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said America was “closely monitoring” the situation and ready to assist. The disaster comes just months into Colombia’s new administration, adding pressure on the government to manage a major crisis while recovery efforts are still in their early stages.