7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Hits Western Colombia, Killing at Least 47

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 47 people and leaving many more injured as buildings collapsed in several cities. The U.S. Geological Survey and Colombia’s geological agency located the epicenter in San José del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 residents in the Chocó region, roughly 250 miles west of Bogotá, at a depth of 66 miles (107 km). The tremor was also felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama, though damage there was minimal.

Local authorities confirmed 18 deaths in Pereira, two in Manizales and 27 in the Valle del Cauca department, which includes Cali. The governor of Valle del Cauca said three of the victims were children. More than 20 municipalities reported damage, and flights were suspended at airports in Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Pereira.

Search teams and residents combed through rubble in Pereira, Quibdó, Cali and Manizales amid concerns about aftershocks. The Colombian Geological Service noted the quake was the strongest recorded in the country in a decade and reported two aftershocks of magnitudes 2.8 and 4.8.

"At least 18 people have died and many more are trapped under a massive quantity of collapsed buildings," said Pereira Mayor Mauricio Salazar to a local radio station.

"Two people have died in the city because of the quake; residents should stay outside in case of aftershocks," said Manizales Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas.

"You are not alone. The state is present and taking action," said President Abelardo de la Espriella, who said he was personally overseeing the response in San José del Palmar.

The quake follows recent seismic activity in the region, including two strong tremors in Venezuela that killed more than 5,000 people in late June. Colombia’s newly inaugurated president pledged a coordinated emergency response as rescue operations continue.