7.4-Magnitude Earthquake in Colombia Kills 132, Many Trapped

Darwin, August 11: At least 132 people have been killed and more than 480 injured after a powerful earthquake struck Colombia, with many more feared trapped beneath collapsed buildings. The death toll could rise further as rescue teams continue their search for survivors.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time on Monday. According to Colombia’s geological agency, the epicentre was near the San José del Palmar area in Chocó province, at a depth of around 103 kilometres.

Strong tremors were felt across large parts of western Colombia, with the worst damage reported in the coffee-producing region and surrounding cities.

Pereira, located about 55 kilometres from the epicentre, suffered extensive damage. At least 65 buildings collapsed across the city, including 15 where people are believed to be trapped. At least 40 people have been killed in the wider Pereira metropolitan area.

The BBC said it verified videos circulating on social media showing a building collapsing in Pereira’s main square, Plaza Bolívar. Debris and thick clouds of dust covered the area following the collapse.

A curfew has been imposed in parts of Pereira until 5 a.m. on Tuesday.

Cali, located about 160 kilometres south of Pereira, also reported significant damage, with 32 buildings collapsing. Residents said many people rushed into the streets in panic as the earthquake struck.

At least two people were killed in Manizales, where cracks appeared in building walls and bricks and plaster fell from structures. Casualties and damage were also reported in Quibdó, Medellín, Chocó and Valle del Cauca.

The strong tremors were also felt in the capital, Bogotá, where trees and traffic signals were seen shaking. Although cracks appeared in some buildings, there were no reports of major infrastructure damage in the capital.

Several regional airports, including those in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura, were affected by the earthquake. Tremors were also felt in neighbouring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national disaster situation, allowing the government to use special powers to respond to the emergency. The president said more than 1,500 homes had been damaged by the earthquake.

Rescue operations are now under way, with emergency workers searching collapsed buildings for survivors. International assistance has also been offered. The United States said it was monitoring the situation and was prepared to provide support if needed, while the European Union said it could deploy its Copernicus satellite system to assist rescue and relief efforts.

The United States Geological Survey estimated that around 1.5 million people experienced strong shaking from the earthquake.

Although the earthquake originated deep underground, experts note that deep earthquakes are generally less destructive at the surface than shallow earthquakes. However, powerful deep tremors can still cause severe damage to buildings and infrastructure.