Cuba expresses its 'heartfelt condolences' and 'solidarity' to Colombia after the earthquake

The Cuban government has conveyed its "heartfelt condolences" and "solidarity" to Colombia after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck a large part of the country on Monday. The tremor has resulted in a preliminary death toll of at least 132 people and left 570 injured.

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel expressed his sympathies on social media, lamenting the "deaths, injuries, and damage caused by the earthquake in the Chocó Department, Colombia." Prime Minister Manuel Marrero also shared messages of "condolences and solidarity to the brotherly Colombian people in these difficult times."

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez echoed these sentiments, offering Cuba's "solidarity and willingness" to support Colombia during this period of grief. The earthquake's epicenter was located near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department, with a depth of 103 kilometers, according to the Colombian Geological Service.

The Colombian government declared a "national disaster" following the quake, which was felt across major cities including Bogotá, Cali, and Medellín. Authorities in Quibdó, the capital of Chocó and closest to the epicenter, reported injuries and significant damage to buildings.