Major earthquake strikes Colombia, causing dozens of deaths

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake rocked large parts of Colombia on Monday, resulting in dozens of fatalities and the collapse of numerous buildings, particularly in the country's central cities. The Colombian government has declared a "national disaster" as emergency services work to assess and respond to the extensive damage.

As of the latest reports, at least 71 people have died, a figure expected to rise as rescue operations continue. The department of Risaralda has reported the highest number of casualties with 40 deaths, followed by Valle del Cauca with 27, and Chocó, the earthquake's epicenter, with four. The Colombian Association of Capital Cities (Asocapitales) released a statement detailing these figures.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, who recently took office, convened an emergency committee and announced his travel to Pereira to support those affected. "I have ordered the establishment of a Unified Command Post to coordinate the response to the damage and the affected population," he stated via social media, assuring citizens, "You are not alone. The State is present and acting."

The tremor occurred at 7:34 AM local time, with its epicenter located in San José del Palmar, Chocó, at a depth of 82 kilometers, according to the Colombian Geological Service (SGC). The earthquake was felt across major cities including Bogotá, Cali, Popayán, Manizales, Armenia, Pereira, and Medellín, as well as in neighboring Panama and Ecuador. The coffee-growing region in central Colombia was particularly hard-hit.

In Pereira, the capital of Risaralda, multiple buildings crumbled, and search teams are working to find survivors trapped under debris. The governor of Valle del Cauca confirmed approximately 27 deaths in her region. Manizales reported at least two fatalities. In Chocó, Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi stated that four people died and at least 69 were injured. The country's civil aviation authority, Aerocivil, reported damage to at least seven airports, including Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura, leading to the suspension of operations for safety assessments.