Magnitude 7.4 earthquake shakes Colombia, prompting highway closure

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake jolted Colombia on Monday morning, causing material damage in cities such as Cali and Manizales. Authorities have initiated infrastructure inspections and ordered the precautionary closure of the Bogotá-Villavicencio highway.

The tremor occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department, according to the Colombian Geological Service (SGC). The SGC updated the magnitude from an initial 6.7 to 7.4 and the depth to 96 kilometers.

Images circulating on social media depict fallen bricks, damaged walls, and visible cracks in buildings in western Colombia. Manizales also reported damage to several properties, with masonry falling and facades affected. Cali experienced structural damage and falling construction elements.

The earthquake was felt across a significant portion of Colombia, including Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Pereira, and Manizales, and was also perceived in Ecuador. As a preventative measure, the Bogotá-Villavicencio corridor, a key land route connecting the capital to the Llanos Orientales region, was fully closed for safety checks.

In Bogotá, residents evacuated buildings, but the mayor's office reported no major emergencies. City authorities began verifying potential damage across the capital. The SGC's updated report indicates a deeper focus than initially reported, with the epicenter situated approximately 20 kilometers from San José del Palmar.