7.4-Magnitude Quake Strikes Colombia, Killing at Least 20

At least 20 people were killed and dozens of buildings collapsed across western Colombia on Monday after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the South American country, trapping people under debris and forcing residents to flee their homes.

The epicentre was located near San Jose del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region, around 400 kilometres west of Bogota, according to the US Geological Survey and Colombia’s geological agency. The USGS said the quake occurred at a depth of 107 kilometres.

Tremors were also felt in neighbouring Ecuador.

Local authorities reported that 18 people were killed in Pereira and two others in Manizales.

Cities across western Colombia were badly affected, with residents and rescue workers searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings. Authorities warned of possible aftershocks.

In Manizales, a city surrounded by Colombia’s coffee-growing mountains, part of the neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed onto the nave. Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas confirmed two deaths and urged residents to remain outside because of the risk of aftershocks.

Choco Governor Nubia Cordoba said Quibdo, the regional capital, suffered injuries and serious damage to buildings, though she did not provide further details.

Images and videos showed homes and smaller buildings collapsing in Pereira, Cali and Quibdo.

In Cali, a city of about two million people, Mayor Alejandro Eder said residents were trapped inside at least 19 collapsed buildings.

Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver in Cali, said he saw clouds of dust rise across the city as buildings collapsed.

“My entire house shook. I’ve never experienced such a powerful earthquake,” he said.

Earthquakes are relatively common in central and western Colombia, but quakes above magnitude 6.0 are unusual. A 6.2-magnitude earthquake near Armenia in 1999 killed more than 1,100 people.

President Abelardo de la Espriella said he had personally taken charge of the government’s emergency response in San Jose del Palmar.

“You are not alone. The state is present and taking action,” he said.

The earthquake came after two consecutive quakes measuring 7.2 and 7.5 struck Venezuela in late June, destroying hundreds of buildings and killing more than 5,000 people.