Colombia quake leaves 69 dead, with more trapped under rubble

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, leaving at least 69 people dead and causing widespread destruction. The tremor, which hit the coastal Choco region at 7:34 am local time, toppled dozens of buildings and was felt in neighboring Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.

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The situation is critical.

Emergency teams are actively searching for survivors trapped beneath the rubble in affected areas. The quake's epicenter was located 100 kilometers deep in the San Jose del Palmar municipality. The Risaralda region reported at least 40 fatalities, while the Valle del Cauca department recorded 27 deaths. Two additional deaths occurred in Manizales, a city in Colombia's coffee-growing region, where the cathedral's tower collapsed.

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A great many buildings in the city sustained damage. Traffic is paralysed and people don’t want to go back to their homes for fear of an aftershock.

Mayor Mauricio Salazar of Pereira described the situation as critical, with many buildings damaged in Manizales, paralyzing traffic and causing residents to fear returning to their homes due to aftershocks. In Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, twenty buildings crumbled, trapping people. The extent of damage in the impoverished Choco capital, Quibdo, remains unknown.

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The quake was very, very strong.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, who was sworn in just days prior, convened an emergency meeting and pledged support to the affected citizens. International partners, including the United States and Israel, have offered assistance. Six small airports in western Colombia suspended operations, and upcoming football matches were postponed.

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To the Colombians who are going through difficult times today, I want to say: You are not alone.