Colombia quake kills 47, collapses buildings near Pacific coast

At least 47 people were killed and dozens of buildings collapsed in western Colombia on Monday when a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck near the Pacific coast, one of the strongest tremors in the country’s history. The quake hit at 1:14 p.m. local time, with its epicenter in the Dagua municipality of the Valle del Cauca department. Tremors were felt as far away as Bogotá, 200 miles east, and in Ecuador. Search and rescue teams are now racing against time to find survivors trapped under rubble in coastal cities like Buenaventura and Cali.

Colombia sits on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a horseshoe-shaped belt of volcanoes and fault lines that circles the Pacific Ocean. The country experiences frequent seismic activity, but a quake of this magnitude is rare. The last major earthquake in Colombia was in 1999, a 6.2-magnitude tremor near the coffee-growing region that killed over 1,000 people. This time, the depth of the quake—reportedly just 10 kilometers below the surface—amplified its destructive power. The region’s infrastructure, already weakened by decades of conflict and uneven development, was ill-prepared for such a violent shake.

Casualties are expected to rise as rescue teams work through the night. Colombia’s disaster agency, UNGRD, said at least 100 buildings were damaged in Valle del Cauca and Cauca departments. Power and communications were cut off in several towns, complicating relief efforts. President Gustavo Petro declared a state of emergency and said the military would support rescue operations. The US Geological Survey estimated the quake’s intensity at IX (“violent”) on the Modified Mercalli scale, meaning well-built structures could suffer heavy damage.

Experts warn that aftershocks could continue for days, increasing the risk of further collapses. Colombia’s National Geological Survey has urged residents in affected areas to stay outdoors and avoid damaged buildings. The government is also preparing to assess the quake’s impact on critical infrastructure, including ports and roads that connect the Pacific coast to the rest of the country. With the region’s history of disaster vulnerability, aid groups are already warning that recovery could take months, especially in poorer communities where rebuilding resources are scarce.