A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake has devastated western Colombia, killing at least 111 people and leaving more than 2,700 reported missing. Around 1,600 structures were damaged or destroyed, with communities in Chocó and nearby areas facing severe access and communication problems. Rescue teams, soldiers, emergency workers and residents are searching collapsed buildings for survivors. President Abelardo de la Espriella has mobilised military and police resources, while the United States announced $15.5 million in emergency assistance for shelter, food and relief operations.
Colombia Earthquake: 7.4-Magnitude Quake Kills 111, More Than 2,700 Reported Missing
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake has killed at least 111 people in western Colombia, destroyed some 1,600 structures and left more than 2,700 people missing.
The rescue operation in Colombia escalated Tuesday after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 111 people and leaving thousands missing or unaccounted for. Cities such as Cali, Quibdo, Pereira and Manizales suffered devastating damage, as soldiers, emergency personnel and residents searched collapsed buildings for survivors and victims trapped under concrete.
About 1,600 buildings were damaged or collapsed as rescuers and families worked through rubble in hand-to-hand volunteer lines, the report said. Ordinary people also ran websites where families posted information about missing relatives, and by Monday night more than 2,700 people were listed as missing, with communications still down in the affected communities.
At least 111 people were dead, President Abelardo de la Espriella said Monday afternoon, and emergency teams were still working to rescue people in dozens of communities affected. Among those missing is 60-year-old farmer Miguel Ángel Zamora of a rural area near El Cairo, reported missing by Dana Carolina Zamora.
Dana Carolina Zamora posted a photo of her uncle with his dog, and said the family feared he might be unreachable due to communication issues after the earthquake. The local authorities said 80 percent of El Cairo, a town of about 7,000 residents, was damaged, stoking fears about vulnerable traditional homes built with sticks and mud.
Choco damage remains difficult to assess
Transportation is very limited, and the communities in the area are remote, so there was still little information to know what the area near the earthquake epicenter, called Choco, near San Jose Del Palmar, was like. Much of Choco can only be accessed by boat, jungle trails or plane. The region has also long been marked by poverty, neglect and conflict with armed groups.
De la Espriella flew Monday night to Quibdo, the capital of Choco, to assess damage and announced the mobilization of Colombia’s military and police response. Engineers, rescue workers and search dogs were on the ground, and rental subsidies would be offered to residents whose homes were damaged and who need repairs before they can return, he said.
The disaster is the first major test for de la Espriella, who was sworn in Friday as Colombia's leader and has vowed an aggressive crackdown on criminal groups. His answer is under scrutiny because of his divisive political profile, while the earthquake has at the same time created urgent demands for rescue, shelter and reconstruction.
The US State Department announced $15.5 million in emergency aid for shelter, food and other relief, and governments across Latin America pledged more help.
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International aid follows regional earthquake fears
The quake has also shaken nerves in Colombia after two consecutive tremors ravaged neighboring Venezuela in late June, killing more than 6,300 people in the neighboring country.
Many Colombians are still trying to locate missing relatives, check damaged buildings and find temporary accommodation, while authorities try to gauge the scale of longer-term reconstruction needs.
Mónica Sánchez, who owns a small company producing work uniforms, was among those affected in Pereira, where a wall inside her factory collapsed during the earthquake. Sánchez and her 12 employees escaped in time, but she said the experience badly shook her as parts of the city crumbled around them.
Rescue teams were to continue searching damaged structures, while authorities assessed remote communities, coordinated humanitarian assistance and updated casualty figures as information became available. Officials will also have to assess damage to structures, help families who have been displaced and set priorities for reconstruction, especially in remote communities where access remains difficult.
Sprouts News will continue to track the rescue operation, official updates on casualties, and international assistance as Colombia shifts from the emergency response to recovery and reconstruction.
