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At Least 70 Dead After Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Strikes Colombia
7.4 earthquake struck several regions of Colombia, causing a large-scale emergency, with buildings collapsing and rescue operations underway
By  Kristel Escobar
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terremoto, colombia, sismo, personas, fallecidos, muertos, At Least 70 Dead After Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Strikes Colombia
FOTO: EFE

Posted on08/10/26 at 14:23

  • At least 70 dead after the earthquake
  • Magnitude 7.4 earthquake
  • Buildings collapsed

At least 70 people have died so far after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck northwestern Colombia on Monday, also causing numerous injuries, collapsed buildings and people trapped under rubble in several cities.

The powerful earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time and was centered in San José del Palmar, a municipality in the department of Chocó, although the shaking was felt across much of Colombia as well as in Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.

  • Why it matters: The death toll could change as emergency teams continue searching for people trapped inside collapsed structures and authorities assess damage to homes, hospitals, airports and other infrastructure.

Risaralda and Valle del Cauca account for much of the reported death toll

 

Risaralda is among the hardest-hit departments, with 40 deaths reported, while Valle del Cauca has recorded 27 deaths, Manizales at least two, and Quibdó one fatality.

Risaralda Governor Diego Patiño raised the death toll of the earthquake in the department to 40 after Pereira Mayor Mauricio Salazar provided an initial assessment of the emergency.

«So far, we have recorded 18 people dead, unfortunately, and the city has an extremely high number of collapsed buildings,» Salazar said.

Valle del Cauca Governor Dilian Francisca Toro also confirmed fatalities and said that some of the victims were minors.

«In the department of Valle del Cauca, excluding Cali, we have approximately 27 people dead. Most painfully, three children in Calima El Darién,» Toro said.

Cali requests help to rescue people trapped under rubble

In Cali, Mayor Alejandro Eder reported that at least 19 structures had collapsed and that people were trapped inside, prompting local authorities to request additional assistance.

«The city has requested teams from Bogotá and Medellín to help with rescue operations,» Eder said.

Toro added that part of the Hospital Universitario de Cali collapsed and that at least five intensive-care patients were trapped beneath the rubble.

Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver who lives in Cali, described the force of the earthquake as he watched columns of dust rise in different parts of the city.

«My entire house shook… I have never experienced an earthquake this strong,» he said.

Chocó reports injuries as authorities warn about aftershocks

Chocó Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba confirmed significant damage to buildings and injuries in Quibdó as authorities began assessing the scale of the emergency.

«We have just experienced a serious seismic event in the department of Chocó. We are concerned about aftershocks. Although the epicenter was San José del Palmar, there are injured people and serious damage to buildings in the capital, Quibdó. We are already assessing the damage to issue the first official report,» Córdoba said.

The Colombian Geological Service confirmed a magnitude of 7.4 after initially estimating the earthquake at 6.6 and placed its depth at 96 kilometers.

The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said it had received reports from nine departments and all 32 departmental capitals where the earthquake was felt.

Colombia airports, homes and Manizales Cathedral damaged by the earthquake

EARTHQUAKE, QUAKE, COLOMBIA, DEATHS, FATALITIES, Colombia Earthquake Leaves at Least 70 Dead
Colombia Earthquake Leaves at Least 70 Dead – PHOTO: EFE

Damage was also reported at the airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura.

In Manizales, one of the towers of its cathedral suffered severe damage, while numerous buildings in Pereira sustained structural damage and some partially collapsed.

In Bogotá, Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán said that, at that point, the capital had not experienced damage comparable to that seen in the hardest-hit regions.

«There are no reports of damage or structural impacts, only some cracks in buildings,» Galán said.

The earthquake was also felt in Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama, while several governments in the region began expressing solidarity with Colombia and offering assistance in response to the emergency.

Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa expressed «full solidarity» with Colombia and the affected families.

«Colombia, Ecuador is with you. We are placing our USAR team at your disposal: 47 rescuers, specialized search dogs and equipment with enough autonomy to operate for seven days. We are ready to mobilize when requested.»

Regional governments offer support to Colombia after devastating earthquake

 

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that the Trump administration is «ready to support the people of Colombia.»

«U.S. citizens in Colombia should register at STEP.State.gov and follow the social media accounts of @USEmbassyBogota to stay informed about the latest developments.»

Panamanian President José Raúl Mulino also expressed his support: «Our solidarity with Colombia. We are willing to assist in whatever is needed within our capabilities. Strength to everyone.»

María Corina Machado said: «Venezuelans, who have experienced the devastating impact of earthquakes, stand wholeheartedly with the affected families.»

Meanwhile, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said Brazil «remains available to Colombia to provide the necessary support.»

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SOURCE: RTVE / EFE