Earthquake in Colombia kills 69, leaves others trapped under rubble
Translated from Lithuanian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
At a glance
News
Named sources
Outcome reported
- A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 69 people and destroying dozens of buildings.
- The tremor's epicenter was in the Chocó region, with significant casualties reported in Risaralda and Valle del Cauca departments.
- Neighboring countries felt the quake, and several airports suspended operations; international aid has been offered.
A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake has devastated western Colombia, claiming the lives of at least 69 people and leaving many trapped beneath rubble. The tremor, which struck Monday evening, also caused widespread destruction, toppling dozens of buildings and its effects were felt in neighboring countries.
The situation is critical.
Rescue efforts are underway to help the injured and search for survivors after the quake hit the Chocó region at 7:34 p.m. local time. The epicenter was located 100 kilometers deep in the municipality of San José del Palmar, in the Risaralda region, where at least 40 fatalities have been confirmed. The mayor of Pereira, the provincial capital, described the situation as critical.
Further casualties were reported in the Valle del Cauca department, with 27 deaths, and two more lives were lost in Manizales, a city in Colombia's coffee-growing region. An AFP journalist witnessed the collapse of the Manizales Cathedral tower. The city suffered extensive damage to numerous buildings, with traffic paralyzed and residents hesitant to return home due to fear of aftershocks.
Traffic is paralyzed, and people do not want to return home because they fear a repeat impact.
In Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, 20 buildings collapsed, trapping people under debris, according to Mayor Alejandro Eder. The governor of Chocó warned of severe damage in the provincial capital, Quibdó, where footage showed more collapsed structures. The death toll in this impoverished region remains unknown.
The earthquake was very, very strong.
The earthquake was also felt in Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela, prompting building evacuations in Bogotá. International leaders, including the U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ecuador's leader Daniel Noboa, have offered assistance. The quake occurred just days after a new president was sworn in, who has pledged to convene an emergency meeting.
To the Colombians going through a difficult time today: you are not alone.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Delfi in Lithuanian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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