At least 111 killed as powerful quake of 7.4 magnitude jolts Colombia; dozens of buildings collapse

A powerful earthquake of 7.4 magnitude struck Colombia on Monday, with tremors being felt in the capital Bogota and across several parts of the country. The Colombian government has declared a national emergency after widespread damage caused by the earthquake.

Colombia’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, saidthe death toll from the earthquake has now reached 111.

At least 87 others were injured, and 61 buildings collapsed in cities across western Colombia, he said, noting the rescue of survivors was his priority. The Colombian president said he will personally oversee recovery efforts. The quake was so powerful that it was also felt in neighbouring Ecuador.

Early reports had pegged the casualties at ⁠20, and claimed that 20 buildings had collapsed after the earthquake. Several people are trapped in collapsed buildings, and the toll may go up.

Mayor Alejandro Eder said at least 20⁠buildings⁠collapsed in the⁠Colombian city of Cali, with people trapped inside. The city has requested teams from Bogota and⁠Medellin to aid in rescue efforts, he added.

In the town of Pereira, 18 people were killed and others were trapped in buildings that collapsed, said Mayor Mauricio Salazar.

Two people were killed in Manizales, Mmayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas said in a radio interview.

Choco governor Nubia Córdoba said on social media that “there are injuries and serious damage to buildings” in the regional capital, without providing further details.

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Damage was reported at the airports of Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura. Air operations at these terminals remain suspended for safety reasons until structural damage to the infrastructure is assessed.

The European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC) said the earthquake was of 7.4 magnitude and occurred at a depth of approximately 115 kilometres.

Colombia’s Geological Service issued a lower preliminary estimate, measuring the earthquake at magnitude 6.7 and a depth of 82 kilometres. It placed the epicentre near San José del Palmar in Colombia’s western Chocó department.

The earthquake’s magnitude was also measured differently by the US Tsunami Warning System, which put it at 7.1. It said there was no tsunami warning after the quake struck Colombia. The tremor was felt in several parts of Colombia, including areas far from the epicentre. Early reports said shaking was felt beyond Colombia, including towards the Venezuela border.

The magnitude estimates are preliminary and may be revised as seismic agencies analyse additional data.

The quake struck at around 7.34 am local time and was felt in Bogotá, Antioquia, Cundinamarca, Meta and other areas, according to local reports.

Emergency authorities activated response and prevention protocols while assessing whether the earthquake caused casualties or significant damage.

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Choco Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi said the earthquake caused injuries and significant damage to buildings in the departmental capital, Quibdo. She said authorities were assessing the damage and warned of possible aftershocks.

"We have just experienced a major earthquake in the department of Choco. We are concerned about aftershocks. Although the epicentre was near San Jose del Palmar, there are injuries and significant damage to buildings in the capital, Quibdo. We are already carrying out a damage assessment and will issue the first official report shortly," Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi said in a post on X.

Colombia is one of the most seismically active countries in South America. Earthquakes can occur across different parts of Colombia due to its location near several tectonic plate boundaries and major fault systems. As per the Colombian Geological Service, the country recorded more than 100 destructive earthquakes, particularly in the Andean region, the eastern foothills of the Eastern Cordillera and the Pacific region.