A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, leaving at least 164 people dead and causing severe damage, including the collapse of a paediatric hospital in Cali. The government has declared a national disaster.
More than 2,600 people are feared missing, with rescue teams racing to find survivors. The epicentre was in San José del Palmar, but the worst damage occurred in Pereira and Cali.
Hospital collapse and red alerts
In Cali, a hospital specialising in paediatric services collapsed, trapping people in the rubble. Around 600 people needed treatment on the streets. According to Bogotá radio station Blu Radio, 32 cities have been placed on red alert due to severe damage.
The government has deployed soldiers to affected cities to assist in rescue efforts.
Rescue operations and cable car evacuations
Search and rescue teams, along with volunteers, are sifting through rubble in Cali. The desperate situation has led to the recall of search crews previously deployed in neighbouring Venezuela, which was hit by two powerful earthquakes in late June.
In Pereira, 16 people were rescued after being trapped for six hours in cable car cabins. Services have been suspended due to structural damage. Similarly, in Manizales, cable car services were also suspended.
Airports closed and international support
Five major airports remain closed to the public for the foreseeable future. The Civil Aeronautics Authority said Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura airports will only be used for medical and government flights. Flights from Popayán also remain restricted due to a nearby volcano eruption.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the White House is “closely monitoring” the situation and stands “ready to support the people of Colombia.” British Ambassador George Hodgson also expressed solidarity, saying: “Stay strong, Colombia!”
Historical context
The quake is the strongest recorded in Colombia this century, according to the Colombian Geological Service. It was followed by 21 aftershocks. The region lies along the Pacific ‘Ring of Fire’, a zone of high seismic activity.
The disaster is being compared to a 6.2-magnitude earthquake in 1999 that killed nearly 1,200 people in the same region, with Armenia among the hardest hit then as well.
