A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the western coast of Colombia on Monday morning, causing significant damage to infrastructure and material losses in several cities. The earthquake occurred at 7:34 local time, with the epicentre located in the western department of Chocó, near the coast of the Pacific Ocean.
According to data from the US Geological Survey (USGS), the epicentre was located five miles east of the village of San José del Palmar. While the US agency recorded a depth of 110 kilometres for the quake, the Colombian geological service stated that the earthquake hit the land at a depth of 96 kilometres. This depth likely mitigated the immediate impact on the surface, although the energy of the earthquake was felt over a wide area.
The city of Cali was the hardest hit, where, according to the mayor, at least 20 buildings collapsed. The mayor confirmed that people were trapped under the rubble and urgently requested the deployment of rescue teams. In the nearby city of Pereira, collapsed and heavily damaged buildings were reported, while in Manizales, a church tower collapsed and significant damage was recorded to other structures.
Deep cracks were observed in the facades of buildings in Manizales, and damage was also reported to several regional airports, including those in Pereira and Manizales. Although there are no direct reports of casualties in those cities, the governor of the Chocó department, Nubia Carolina Córdoba, confirmed that injuries had been reported among the local population.
The earthquake was also felt in the distance, including in the capital, Bogotá, where numerous buildings were evacuated. Governor Córdoba expressed concern over potential consequences and warned of the possibility of strong aftershocks following the main event.
