Cali Mayor Reports at Least 20 Buildings Collapsed in Earthquake

Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, is grappling with the aftermath of a magnitude 7.4 earthquake, reporting at least 20 collapsed buildings and trapped individuals. Mayor Alejandro Eder described the situation as an emergency, with rescue teams actively working to assist victims.

One severely damaged structure was the motel Molino Rojo, which collapsed entirely. Other buildings in the city center and the Canchas Panamericanas sector sustained facade damage. Reports indicate people may be trapped in collapsed buildings in the Capri neighborhood and another structure on Avenida Roosevelt was reduced to rubble.

Mayor Eder has requested assistance from the mayors of Bogota and Medellin for rescue personnel. He urged citizens to remain calm, check their buildings for structural damage, and evacuate if they feel unsafe. The earthquake's epicenter was located in San José del Palmar, Chocó province, in the Pacific region. Authorities are also assessing damage to the Valle del Cauca Governor's building, Cali's Municipal Administrative Center, and a building belonging to the Fundación Valle del Lili.