Colombia Declares State of Emergency After 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Kills 111
Colombia has declared a national state of emergency after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country’s western region, killing at least 111 people and leaving dozens of buildings collapsed or severely damaged.
The earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time on Monday, with its epicentre near San José del Palmar in Chocó Department, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The tremor was felt across much of Colombia and in neighbouring countries, including Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.
Rescue teams, soldiers, police officers and volunteers were deployed across affected communities as authorities searched collapsed buildings for survivors. More than 1,600 structures were reported damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed. Several hospitals and other critical infrastructure were also affected.
The hardest-hit areas include Chocó, Valle del Cauca and Risaralda, with major damage reported in cities including Cali, Pereira and Quibdó. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescuers continue searching areas that remain difficult to access.
President Abelardo de la Espriella, who had taken office only days before the disaster, travelled to the affected region and ordered the mobilisation of national security and emergency resources. The government also imposed additional security measures in some cities amid concerns over damaged buildings and potential looting.
The Colombian disaster follows a devastating earthquake emergency in neighbouring Venezuela. On June 24, two powerful earthquakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck north-central Venezuela, heavily affecting La Guaira, Caracas and surrounding states. Venezuela’s government declared a state of emergency and international rescue assistance was mobilised.
The Venezuelan disaster caused widespread structural damage and severely disrupted healthcare, transportation, electricity and other essential services. PAHO/WHO reported that more than 1,400 structures had been damaged in its early assessment, while La Guaira became one of the principal areas of the emergency response.
Colombia itself offered humanitarian assistance to Venezuela following the June earthquakes, with Bogotá saying it was monitoring the situation and coordinating with Venezuelan authorities.
Although the two disasters have occurred within weeks of each other and in the same seismically active region, there is no evidence that the Colombian earthquake was caused by the earlier Venezuelan earthquakes. Seismologists continue to monitor the region for aftershocks as rescue and recovery operations continue in Colombia.Editorial note: I would use “at least 111 dead” rather than “111 deaths” because the casualty figure is still developing.
