At least 111 people have been confirmed dead and 87 others injured following a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck large parts of western Colombia. Colombia’s Geological Service reported on Monday that the seismic event was the highest magnitude earthquake registered in the country in the last decade.
The earthquake occurred near the municipality of San Jose del Palmar in Colombia’s Choco region, located approximately 400km (250 miles) west of Bogota. According to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS) and Colombia’s geological service, the tremor originated at a depth of about 107km (66 miles). The US tsunami warning system confirmed that no tsunami warning was issued following the event.
Dozens of buildings collapsed across multiple cities, trapping residents under debris and forcing mass evacuations as far away as the capital, Bogota. The quake was subsequently followed by two aftershocks measuring 2.8 and 4.8 in magnitude. Authorities reported that flight operations were suspended at airports in Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura, and Pereira, while the national football governing body postponed upcoming matches.
In Pereira, the impact was particularly visible; photos and videos published by local media showed sections of the airport ceiling collapsing onto travelers seeking shelter, with citizens navigating through heavy rubble. Pereira’s mayor, Mauricio Salazar, informed local radio that many individuals remained trapped under a massive quantity of collapsed buildings.
The Pacific region, and specifically the Choco area, is recognized as one of the poorest in Colombia. Much of this territory is rural and accessible only by boat or plane, a logistical challenge that complicates efforts by authorities to assess the full scale of the disaster. Al Jazeera’s Alessandro Rampiett, reporting from Bogota, noted that the death toll is expected to climb as search operations continue, particularly in the three most heavily affected urban centers.
Newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a state of emergency to expedite funding for recovery efforts and confirmed his intention to visit the disaster zone. “We aren’t going to leave people alone. They are in our hearts and we are going to tend to people with our full determination,” he stated.
In the capital, the earthquake triggered building and car alarms, prompting residents to flee into the streets. Bogota Mayor Carlos Fernando Galan stated on social media that while there were no reports of serious injuries or structural damage in the city, the capital’s resources were being placed at the service of the rest of the country. “We stand in solidarity with the affected cities. We will continue to address this emergency and provide assistance as needed,” Galan wrote.
International leaders have begun offering support. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is closely monitoring the situation and stands ready to assist. European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen added that the EU is prepared to provide further support, noting that they have already mobilized Copernicus, their satellite service, to assist with ongoing rescue operations.
While Colombia typically experiences thousands of small tremors every month, seismic events of magnitude 6.0 or higher remain rare. The country has a history of devastating quakes, most notably in 1999, when a 6.2 magnitude event struck the coffee region, killing over 1,000 people. This latest disaster follows two powerful earthquakes that struck neighboring Venezuela in late June, which measured 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude and resulted in more than 6,000 deaths, marking them among the deadliest in the region in recent years.