Bogota: At least 132 people were killed Monday after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia, causing buildings to collapse and triggering large-scale rescue operations across multiple cities. At least 570 people were also injured, according to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities.
According to Anadolu Agency, President Abelardo De La Espriella reported that the disaster caused damage to 1,575 homes, with 37 completely destroyed. The earthquake also impacted 61 collapsed buildings, 18 health centers, 52 educational centers, 17 community centers, and 18 roads. In response, the Colombian government declared a national disaster situation to enhance mobilization and coordination of resources.
The earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time, with the epicenter located approximately 5 kilometers east of San Jose del Palmar, as reported by the US Geological Survey. The quake originated at a depth of 107 kilometers. A magnitude 5.0 aftershock followed at 8:18 a.m., roughly 16 kilometers west of San Jose del Palmar.
Despite the quake's intensity, the US Tsunami Warning Center confirmed no tsunami threat for the US Pacific coast or British Columbia, and Colombian authorities echoed this for their Pacific coast.
President De La Espriella assured that the government is actively managing the crisis, setting up a unified command post for response efforts. He requested a detailed report on the situation in San Jose del Palmar and plans to support affected regions, although he later redirected his focus to Bogota.
Fatalities have been reported across multiple departments, including 40 in Risaralda, 27 in Valle del Cauca, and four in Choco. Pereira Mayor Mauricio Salazar confirmed 18 deaths in his city, while Valle del Cauca Governor Dilian Francisca Toro verified 27 fatalities. In Manizales, Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas reported two deaths and significant building damage. Choco Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba Curi noted four deaths and 69 injuries.
Colombia's civil aviation authority reported damage to Cali's Alfonso Bonilla Aragon Airport, with air operations at Popayan Airport suspended due to volcanic ash from the Purace volcano. Operations were also halted at several other airports for structural assessments.
Local response efforts are underway, with Quibdo firefighters rescuing individuals from damaged structures and Medellin's disaster teams assessing the situation. In Bogota, emergency protocols were activated without serious damage reported, and the capital is prepared to assist the most affected cities.
The earthquake's impact extended beyond Colombia, affecting Ecuador and Panama. Authorities continue evaluating the full extent of the damage and casualties, as experts label this the strongest earthquake in Colombia this century.
The US Embassy in Bogota is monitoring the situation, advising American citizens to stay informed and connected. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that the Trump administration is ready to support Colombia during this crisis.