Earthquake on Colombia's Pacific Coast causes injuries and damage
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia today, shaking the South American nation and neighbouring Ecuador and causing people to evacuate homes and buildings.
At least 20 buildings collapsed in an earthquake on Monday in the Colombian city of Cali, with people trapped inside, mayor Alejandro Eder said. The city has requested teams from Bogota and Medellin to aid in rescue efforts, he added.
The epicentre was in San Jose Del Palmar, a municipality in the Choco region about 250 miles (400km) west of Colombia’s capital, Bogota, the US Geological Survey and Colombia’s counterpart reported. The USGS said it struck at a depth of 66 miles (107km).
Choco governor Nubia Córdoba said on social media that in the regional capital, “there are injuries and serious damage to buildings,” without providing further details.
The temblor follows two back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes in Venezuela in late June. Those earthquakes destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed more than 5,000 people.
Colombian president Abelardo de la Espriella said in a post on X that he will personally supervise recovery efforts and install an emergency centre in San Jose del Palmar.
The quake follows two back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes in Venezuela in late June. Those earthquakes destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed more than 5,000 people.
Footage shared by local media outlets showed homes and small buildings collapsing in the cities of Pereira, Cali and Quibdo.
In Manizales, a city about 190 miles (300km) west of Bogota, one of the towers of the neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed and fell on the nave.
In Cali, a city of 2m people, mayor Alejandro Eder said that residents were trapped in at least 19 buildings that had collapsed.
Small earthquakes, known as “temblores,” are common in central and western Colombia, but those above 6.0 magnitude are rare. In 1999, a 6.2 magnitude quake near the city of Armenia, killed more than 1,100 people.
Earthquake on Colombia's Pacific Coast causes injuries and damage
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia today, shaking the South American nation and neighbouring Ecuador and causing people to evacuate homes and buildings.
At least 20 buildings collapsed in an earthquake on Monday in the Colombian city of Cali, with people trapped inside, mayor Alejandro Eder said. The city has requested teams from Bogota and Medellin to aid in rescue efforts, he added.
The epicentre was in San Jose Del Palmar, a municipality in the Choco region about 250 miles (400km) west of Colombia’s capital, Bogota, the US Geological Survey and Colombia’s counterpart reported. The USGS said it struck at a depth of 66 miles (107km).
Choco governor Nubia Córdoba said on social media that in the regional capital, “there are injuries and serious damage to buildings,” without providing further details.
The temblor follows two back-to-back 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquakes in Venezuela in late June. Those earthquakes destroyed hundreds of buildings and killed more than 5,000 people.