A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday morning, killing at least 73 people and trapping many under collapsed buildings. The quake, centered in the village of San Jose Del Palmar in the Choco region, about 250 miles west of Bogotá, forced evacuations in the capital and was felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama.
Deaths and damage across regions
Local authorities confirmed at least 40 deaths in the Risaralda region, which includes the hard-hit city of Pereira. In the Valle del Cauca region, home to Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, 27 people died, including at least three children, according to the governor. Four deaths were reported in Choco, and two in Manizales in the Caldas region.
The earthquake, which struck at a depth of 66 miles, devastated cities including Pereira, Quibdo, Cali, and Manizales. Residents and rescue teams sifted through rubble, while authorities warned of aftershocks. Colombia's interior minister said more than 20 municipalities were affected.
Eyewitness accounts and response
Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver from Cali, described clouds of dust rising as buildings crumbled. "My entire house shook. I've never lived through such a powerful earthquake," he said. "We're thanking God we're alive."
Colombia's Geological Service said it was the strongest earthquake in the country in a decade, followed by two aftershocks of magnitudes 2.8 and 4.8. Flights were suspended at airports in Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura, and Pereira.
Impact and international support
In Pereira, images showed airport ceiling chunks falling on travelers, with at least 18 deaths reported by the mayor. In Manizales, a tower of the neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed. In Cali, Mayor Alejandro Eder said residents were trapped in at least 19 collapsed buildings.
President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office over the weekend, assumed control of the emergency response in San José del Palmar, stating, "You are not alone. The state is present and taking action." Messages of solidarity came from leaders across the Americas, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration "stands ready to support." The UN deputy spokesman Farhan Haq said, "we stand ready to help as needed."
