Following the severe magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday, the death toll has continued to climb. Authorities reported that there have been at least 132 confirmed fatalities and over 480 injured. The tremor occurred on Monday morning at 7:34 local time (2:34 PM German time) in the western part of the country. The shaking was felt over a wide radius, causing extensive damage, particularly in the city of Pereira, which is located in the country’s coffee-growing region.
In Pereira alone, at least 40 deaths have been reported, and 65 buildings collapsed. There are suspicions that people may still be trapped under the rubble in several of these structures. The earthquake also caused significant destruction in surrounding cities and the Valle del Cauca region. In Cali, approximately 160 kilometers south of Pereira, 32 buildings fell.
After sustaining damage from the seismic event, the airports in Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura suspended operations. President de la Espriella declared a national state of emergency and stated that he would personally monitor the situation. He announced plans to issue regular updates on the status of the disaster and coordinate international aid.
