Powerful 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Colombia, Killing More Than 160
COLOMBIA — A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia early Monday, killing at least 164 people, injuring many others and causing widespread destruction across several cities, according to authorities and news reports.
The August 10 earthquake caused buildings to collapse and sent terrified residents into the streets as violent shaking was felt across a large portion of the country. Some of the hardest-hit areas included Cali, Pereira and Manizales, as well as communities in Chocó near the earthquake’s epicenter.
Cali suffered particularly heavy casualties, with authorities reporting dozens of deaths. Part of a hospital was damaged, forcing medical personnel to treat hundreds of patients outside. In Pereira, numerous buildings were damaged or destroyed, while Manizales also reported extensive structural damage.
Police officers, soldiers, firefighters and civilian volunteers joined emergency crews searching through piles of concrete and twisted debris for survivors. Authorities warned that the death toll could continue to rise as rescuers reach damaged buildings and more isolated communities.
The Colombian government mobilized emergency resources and security personnel to assist with rescue operations and maintain order in affected areas. Curfews were also imposed in Cali and Pereira following reports of looting.
The earthquake is among the deadliest natural disasters to strike Colombia in recent years and has drawn comparisons to the devastating 1999 Armenia earthquake, which killed more than 1,000 people.
Rescue operations continued Tuesday as families waited for information about missing relatives and emergency workers searched damaged neighborhoods for signs of life.
Authorities urged residents to remain cautious because aftershocks could cause additional collapses, particularly among buildings already weakened by the initial earthquake.