No Paraguayans Among 71 Dead in Colombia Earthquake, Ambassador Confirms

Paraguayan Ambassador to Colombia, Juan Alberto Baiardi, has assured families in Paraguay that no Paraguayan citizens were among the 71 fatalities reported following a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia. The tremors were felt strongly across major Colombian cities including Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, and Bucaramanga, and even registered in neighboring Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.

Ambassador Baiardi confirmed that the approximately 150 Paraguayan nationals residing in Colombia are safe and unharmed. "We do not have any affected individuals. We have already communicated with everyone, and only one merchant had her premises damaged. Physically, there are no affected individuals," he stated, providing significant relief to concerned families back home.

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We do not have any affected individuals. We have already communicated with everyone, and only one merchant had her premises damaged. Physically, there are no affected individuals.

The earthquake's epicenter was located in San José del Palmar, Chocó, at a depth of 96 kilometers. While the shaking was intense and prolonged in Bogotá, Ambassador Baiardi noted that there was not significant structural damage to buildings in the capital. He described the experience as "long" and "not very pleasant," mentioning it was the second earthquake he had experienced in a year, but significantly stronger than the previous one.

The embassy in Bogotá is operating normally, as the situation in the capital is not considered critical. The confirmation of the safety of Paraguayan residents underscores the diplomatic efforts to account for citizens abroad during natural disasters.

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Here in Bogotá it was felt strongly. There isn't that much structural damage here, but it was felt strongly. That is to say, more than strong, it was long. I don't know how many minutes it lasted, but it was long. And it's not very pleasant, I'll be honest.