MOSCOW, August 10. /TASS/. At least one person died and ten others were injured after a powerful earthquake in Colombia’s Choco department. Three people are missing, the El Espectador newspaper reported, citing the regional office of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.

At least 18 people died in the city of Pereira, Mayor Mauricio Salazar said.

TASS has complied key facts about the calamity

Earthquake

The Colombian Geological Service has revised the magnitude of the earthquake that struck the west of the country to 7.4.

According to updated data, the earthquake occurred near the city of San Jose del Palmar in Choco Department.

Its hypocenter was at a depth of 96 km.

Earlier, the European-Mediterranean Seismological Center reported that the earthquake had a magnitude of 6.8.

According to Colombia’s Maritime Authority, the earthquake occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time (12:34 a.m. GMT) near the city of San Jose del Palmar in Choco Department.

Earth tremors were felt in nine department and in all the 32 Colombian administrative centers, Javier Pava, director of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management, said.

No tsunami warning was issued, the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said.

Casualties

Six people may be trapped beneath the rubble of a building in the city of Quibdo, the Caracol television channel said.

Rescuers and local residents continue search operations for people who may be trapped under the rubble of buildings destroyed in an earthquake.

Serios damage was done to buildings in Quibdo, several people were injured, according to Choco Department governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba Curi.

At least one person died and ten others were injured after a powerful earthquake in Colombia’s Choko department. Three people are missing, the El Espectador newspaper reported, citing the regional office of the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.

Three people are reported missing.

At least 18 people died in the city of Pereira, Mayor Mauricio Salazar said.

Damage

According to Quibdo authorities, at least three buildings were ruined, the Caracol television channel said.

Serious damage was reported from the city of Pereira

Several airports in Colombia suspended operations amid the earthquake, the country’s Civil Aviation Authority said.

Damage was done to the airports in Pereira, Quibdo, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura, the authority said.

The capital city’s international airport continues operating routinely.

Videos on social networks show several buildings going down in Quibdo.

Local authorities are examining buildings and verifying reports about the quake’s consequences.

Response

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said he controls clear-up operations after the earthquake that rocked the city of San Jose del Palmar in Choco Department.

He instructed to set up a command center to coordinate works to eliminate the consequences and help those affected.

The president also promised to visit the city of Pereira that was hit the most by the quake to control the local authorities’ actions.