Powerful 7.4 earthquake strikes western Colombia, killing at least 111

The earthquake struck at around 7:34 a.m. local time, with its epicentre near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department, according to the US Geological Survey. The tremor was felt across a wide area, including Bogotá and parts of neighbouring countries.

Widespread damage

Several cities in western Colombia reported serious damage, with buildings collapsing and people becoming trapped under rubble. Pereira, Cali, Manizales and Quibdó were among the areas affected by the powerful shaking.

Emergency authorities deployed rescue personnel and heavy equipment to affected areas as they worked to locate survivors and assess damaged infrastructure.

Rescue operations continued as authorities worked to determine the full scale of the destruction.

The earthquake also disrupted transport and other essential services in affected areas. Reports indicated that some airports were temporarily closed amid safety concerns following the tremor.

Authorities assess the aftermath

The Colombian government mobilised emergency services and resources to support communities affected by the disaster. Officials warned that the situation remained fluid as rescue teams continued reaching damaged locations and verifying casualty figures.

The death toll rose rapidly during the first hours following the earthquake, underscoring the difficulty of assessing the disaster while rescue operations were still underway.

The earthquake has become one of Colombia’s most significant recent natural disasters, with authorities now facing the dual challenge of rescuing survivors and beginning the assessment of long-term damage to homes and infrastructure.