Magnitude 7.4 Quake Hits Colombia, Killing at Least 111; 'Worst in a Decade'

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the western inland region of Colombia, resulting in at least 111 fatalities and 87 injuries, according to foreign media reports on the tenth.

Hundreds of buildings crumbled in the quake, prompting ongoing rescue efforts to free residents trapped beneath the debris. The Colombian Geological Service identified the epicenter near San José del Palmar in Chocó Province, approximately 400 kilometers west of the capital, Bogotá.

The remote, jungle-covered mountainous terrain near the epicenter has complicated rescue operations and the accurate assessment of damage. Significant impacts were reported in major western cities including Pereira, Cali, and Manizales. In Pereira, a partial airport ceiling collapse halted flights, while in Cali, over 19 buildings were destroyed, necessitating the emergency evacuation of hospital patients. The iconic Sacred Heart Cathedral in Manizales also suffered partial tower collapse.

Colombian authorities have characterized this seismic event as the most powerful earthquake to hit the country in the past ten years.