Colombia earthquake: Death toll rises to 111, dozens of buildings collapse — latest updates
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday (August 10), killing at least 111 people and injuring 87, as rescue teams searched through collapsed
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday (August 10), killing at least 111 people and injuring 87, as rescue teams searched through collapsed buildings for survivors and families waited for news of missing loved ones. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella declared an emergency to speed up funding for recovery efforts and said he would travel to the disaster zone. “We aren’t going to leave people alone. They are in our hearts and we are going to tend to people with our full determination,” de la Espriella said. The earthquake caused widespread damage in Pereira, Quibdó, Cali and Manizales, while emergency teams and residents searched collapsed structures for survivors. Local officials had confirmed 40 deaths in Risaralda, home to the hard-hit city of Pereira 27 deaths in Valle del Cauca, where Cali is located Nine deaths in Chocó Two deaths in Caldas One death in Antioquia, involving a 73-year-old Cali among worst-hit cities Cali, Colombia's third-largest city with a population of about two million, suffered significant damage. Mayor Alejandro Eder said residents were trapped in at least 19 collapsed buildings as rescue workers searched through the rubble. Residents described scenes of panic as buildings shook and debris fell across the city. Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver, said he saw clouds of dust rise across Cali as structures collapsed. Buildings collapse across western Colombia The earthquake caused widespread structural damage across several cities.
At least 19 buildings collapsed in Cali, trapping residents under fallen masonry, according to the latest reports. Authorities were also assessing damage in other parts of the country. In Quibdó, the capital of Chocó province, Governor Nubia Córdoba reported injuries and major structural damage to buildings. Buildings in Medellín, Colombia’s second-largest city, also developed cracks, although there were no immediate reports of injuries there. Bogotá residents flee homes The earthquake was strongly felt in Bogotá, prompting residents to rush into the streets, some still dressed in their pajamas. The capital’s mayor said there were no immediate reports of damage in Bogotá, although authorities continued to monitor the situation. Chocó Governor Nubia Córdoba said there were injuries and serious damage to buildings in Quibdó, the regional capital with a population of about 130,000. In neighbouring Risaralda province, Governor Juan Diego Patino said Pereira, a major city in Colombia’s coffee-growing region, also suffered serious damage to some buildings. The earthquake triggered evacuations as residents rushed out of homes and other structures amid fears of further collapses. Colombia quake shakes Venezuela “At this moment, Civil Protection is conducting assessments and receiving reports on infrastructure across the state; there are no serious issues so far, and—most importantly—no casualties to report,” Freddy Bernal, the governor of Táchira in western Venezuela, said on X. “Emergency response agencies have been deployed, and Civil Protection plans are in effect.
The BriefWire