Colombia quake kills 47, collapses buildings

A 7.4‑magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 47 people and collapsing dozens of buildings across several cities. The tremor hit near the municipality of San Jose del Palmar in the Choco region, about 400 km west of Bogotá, and caused widespread damage that forced residents to evacuate homes and search for shelter amid the rubble.

The quake struck at a depth of roughly 107 km, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. No tsunami warning was issued. Choco Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba‑Curi said authorities were concerned about aftershocks and were conducting damage assessments. Emergency teams were dispatched to affected towns, and residents in nearby areas were urged to stay alert while officials evaluated the impact.

In Bogotá, alarms rang and people fled into the streets, but the mayor reported no injuries and only minor cracks in buildings. Pereira suffered 18 deaths and saw 25 buildings collapse. Manizales lost two lives, and Cali recorded 27 fatalities with 25 collapsed structures. Medellín experienced evacuation sirens but no casualties; its mayor suspended metro operations for structural checks, while small towns outside the city reported caved‑in roofs and fractured walls.

The disaster comes weeks after two powerful earthquakes in Venezuela that killed more than 6,000 people. Colombian officials are urging residents to remain vigilant for aftershocks and to report damage. The event highlights the region’s seismic vulnerability and the urgent need for stronger building codes and improved emergency preparedness.