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🇮🇱 Israel /Disasters & Emergencies

Colombia earthquake ‘reminded me of Israel’s sirens and bombs,’ Israeli in Bogota tells 'Post'

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia's Choco province, killing at least 21 people and trapping an unknown number under rubble.
  • An Israeli resident in Bogota described the shaking as reminiscent of sirens and bombs in Israel, but noted a touching moment of solidarity from locals.
  • Despite the fear, the resident felt a sense of love from Colombians who asked him to bless them, countering perceptions of widespread hate.

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake rattled Colombia's Choco province on Monday morning, claiming at least 21 lives and leaving an unknown number of people trapped beneath debris. The tremor struck at 7:34 a.m. local time at a depth of 79 kilometers, with its epicenter near San José del Palmar.

It reminded me of Israel with the sirens and the bombs.

— Fernando Chaim BiskerIsraeli resident describing his experience during the earthquake.

For Israeli resident Fernando Chaim Bisker, who was in the capital Bogota with his family, the experience was jarring. "It reminded me of Israel with the sirens and the bombs," he told The Jerusalem Post. Although his family was safe in a new, earthquake-resistant building, the shaking was intense.

I was having my breakfast after Shacharit [morning prayers], and then we noticed it was shaking stronger and stronger. And I always saw it in the movies, not in my life. And we went down to the street, and we needed to hold on to the walls because we could not walk; it was shaking so much.

— Fernando Chaim BiskerDescribing the intensity of the earthquake.

"I was having my breakfast after Shacharit [morning prayers], and then we noticed it was shaking stronger and stronger," Bisker recounted. "And we went down to the street, and we needed to hold on to the walls because we could not walk; it was shaking so much."

I went to the street with kippah - I'm a religious Jew. And the people there in the street started saying, 'Viva Israel' and 'bless us.' That was very touching to see the people in the street ask me to bless them.

— Fernando Chaim BiskerRecounting a moment of unexpected solidarity from locals.

Amidst the fear and chaos on the street, Bisker experienced a moment of unexpected warmth. "I went to the street with kippah - I'm a religious Jew. And the people there in the street started saying, 'Viva Israel' and 'bless us.' That was very touching to see the people in the street ask me to bless them," he said. He found this gesture particularly meaningful, stating, "Usually people think that there is so much hate, but there is so much love toward the Jewish people."

Usually people think that there is so much hate, but there is so much love toward the Jewish people.

— Fernando Chaim BiskerReflecting on the positive interaction with Colombians.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Jerusalem Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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