80 killed in earthquake

By Philipp Znidar

Rio de Janeiro (dpa) — More than 80 people have died after western Colombia was hit by a severe magnitude 7.4-earthquake, reducing buildings to rubble in a number of cities, officials reported on Monday.

Hundreds of people were said to have been injured, and serious damage was reported from several parts of the country amid fears that the death toll would continue to rise.

The powerful quake struck at around 7:34 am (1234 GMT) in the Chocó department, with tremors felt in major cities including Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Pereira, Popayán, Armenia and Manizales.

Videos circulating on social media showed destroyed buildings and people rushing into the streets in panic.

The earthquake was also felt in the neighbouring countries of Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.

Serious damage reported

At least 47 deaths were reported in Pereira, police chief Óscar Leonel Ochoa told Radio Caracol.

80 killed in earthquake

Another 27 have died in the department of Valle del Cauca, including three children, according to Governor Dilian Francisca Toro.

In the department of Chocó, at least four people were killed and 69 injured, the regional government reported.

Three people have died and hundreds have been injured in the city of Manizales, where 10 to 12 buildings collapsed entirely, while other houses sustained severe damage, according to Mayor Jorge Rojas.

A tower of the cathedral in Manizales was also damaged.

Power supplies, telephone services and other communication links have been disrupted.

In Cali, the mayor reported more than 20 collapsed buildings, with people believed to be trapped inside.

In Quibdó, the capital of the Chocó department, panic broke out following the earthquake and several aftershocks. Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba reported injuries and severe damage to buildings.

80 killed in earthquake

Epicentre west of Bogotá

The quake’s epicentre was located near the town of San José del Palmar in the Chocó department, some 240 kilometres west of Bogotá, at a depth of 96 kilometres, the Colombian Geological Service (SGC) said on X.

The United States Geological Survey (USGS) put the depth at 107 kilometres.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, who was sworn on Friday, ordered the establishment of a crisis task force in San José del Palmar to coordinate aid for those affected.

Numerous countries have offered assistance. “Brazil remains at Colombia’s disposal to provide the necessary support,” President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva said.

De la Espriella announced that he would travel to Pereira in person.

Shortly after the main earthquake, the SGC recorded an aftershock measuring 4.6 in Nóvita, which is also located in the department of Chocó.

The quake comes after twin earthquakes hit neighbouring Venezuela in late June, killing more than 6,000 people.