A powerful earthquake struck Colombia near the Venezuelan border, sending people running for their lives as buildings collapsed. The 7.4 magnitude quake, later revised to 6.4, triggered alarms in the capital Bogota.
Epicenter and Impact
The earthquake hit in the Choco province on the Pacific coast, with the epicenter at a depth of 79km near San Jose del Palmar. In the provincial capital Quibdo, injuries and severe building damage were reported, according to Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi.
Several people are believed to be trapped under concrete blocks in Quibdo, the worst-affected area. Cordoba-Curi wrote on X: 'We have just experienced a severe seismic event in the department of Chocó. We are concerned about aftershocks. Although the epicenter was in San José del Palmar, in the capital Quibdó there are injuries and severe damage to buildings. We are already conducting the damage assessment to issue the first official report.'
Evacuations and Damage
Families in Bogota fled their homes during breakfast and school preparations. Damage was reported in Manizales, and evacuations took place in Medellin. The Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Rosary in Manizales may be at risk of collapse.
This earthquake comes less than two months after deadly quakes devastated Venezuela on June 24. Those quakes destroyed buildings in Caracas and La Guaira, trapping people under rubble for days. As of August, more than 6,100 people have been confirmed dead, with tens of thousands still missing.
Seismic Vulnerability
Colombia and Venezuela are prone to powerful earthquakes due to their location near the boundary of the Caribbean and South American tectonic plates, making the region a lively zone for seismic activity.
