A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia at 07:34 local time on Monday, killing at least 181 people according to official figures, though an aggregated count from local officials places the death toll potentially above 240. Almost 2,600 people have been injured and nearly 200 remain missing, according to President Abelardo de la Espriella, who has declared a state of emergency.
Colombia Earthquake Kills More Than 180, Leaves Hundreds Trapped
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia at 07:34 local time on Monday, killing at least 181 people according to official figures, though an aggregated count from local officials places the death toll potentially above 240. Almost 2,600 people have been injured and nearly 200 remain missing, according to President Abelardo de la Espriella, who has declared a state of emergency.
The quake was felt across a wide area of western Colombia, with aftershocks continuing into Tuesday. More than 1,100 homes have been destroyed and over 8,000 damaged, according to President Espriella, who provided the update from Pereira, described as one of the worst-affected cities. Overnight, residents in cities including Pereira and Cali slept outdoors due to destroyed homes or fears of further building collapses.
In Cali, a city of approximately 2.2 million people, 95 deaths have been recorded. A unified command post has been established to coordinate rescue efforts. Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder said on Tuesday that 239 people remained trapped, 949 had been injured, and 45 buildings had either completely or partially collapsed. Several upper floors of one hospital, including floors used for paediatric care, collapsed, leaving patients trapped.
In Calima, a neighbourhood in northern Cali, four children died when a section of the Gimnasio Calima school collapsed. Municipality mayor Antonio Cadavid said other children sustained serious injuries, with a total of 30 children referred to care centres. A curfew was ordered in Cali from 20:00 to 06:00 local time to address the threat of looting.
In Manizales, Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas reported five deaths and said 60 buildings had partially or totally collapsed. Rojas cautioned against sharing social media posts from unknown sources, warning they could contain unverified information and increase public alarm.
International assistance was offered to Colombia. A spokesperson for UN Secretary-General António Guterres said Guterres expressed solidarity with Colombia and that the UN was working to support the government's response. Spain's Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares reported 164 Spanish nationals were still unaccounted for, with no confirmed Spanish injuries or deaths at that time. The US administration announced a donation of $15.5 million to Colombia. Offers of assistance also came from Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador, and Venezuela.
- The source does not establish a verified final death toll, as official and aggregated local figures differ significantly.
- The source does not confirm how many people have been successfully rescued from rubble.
- The source does not detail the specific causes of the discrepancy between the official death toll of 181 and the aggregated figure above 240.
- The source does not specify the epicentre or depth of the earthquake.
- The source does not describe the nature or form of the US administration's $15.5 million donation.
- The source does not clarify what criteria were used to classify 164 Spanish nationals as missing.
- The source does not explain the basis on which the Trump administration is described as having backed President Espriella in his election.
- The source does not provide details on the scale or status of offers of help from Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador, and Venezuela.