7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Western Colombia, Prompting Evacuations and Emergency Response

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, with the US Geological Survey locating the epicenter near San José del Palmar in Chocó at a depth of 107 km. The tremor was felt strongly in Pereira, Zarzal, Armenia and other cities, exposing more than two million people to level-7 shaking on the USGS intensity scale.

In Pereira, the façade of the Iglesia San José partially collapsed and nearby trees and power lines were violently shaken. The mayor of Nóvita, Jaime Velásquez, told Caracol Radio that the local health centre was overwhelmed and that the town remained on high alert for possible aftershocks. He added that no deaths had been reported in his municipality, though the church and several other structures were badly damaged.

In the central city of Manizales, Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas confirmed two fatalities linked to the quake and reported that multiple buildings were either totally or partially destroyed. The municipal aerial cable-car system was suspended, with all three lines taken out of service and passengers being evacuated.

Chocó Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba Curi said the regional capital Quibdó suffered severe building damage and injuries, and warned of potential aftershocks. President Abelardo de la Espriella convened an emergency committee and announced he would travel to Bogotá to lead response efforts, coordinating with the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management.

USGS officials noted that the intensity of shaking could cause considerable damage to poorly built structures and moderate damage to well-constructed ones, estimating a roughly one-in-three chance that fatalities could exceed 1,000 if widespread collapse occurs.