Earthquake in Colombia, race against time: 240 confirmed victims, over 3,600 people…

It is at least 240 confirmed victimsbeyond 1,000 injured and about 3,600 missing the dramatic toll – unfortunately destined to worsen as the hours pass – of the devastating earthquake that shook the Colombia and several Latin American countries. Rescue teams are continuously digging through the rubble fearing that the deaths could rise into the thousands.

Shocks as far as Panama and Ecuador

The violent tremor occurred at 7.34am local time (1.34pm in Italy). The magnitude was estimated at 6.6 by the Colombian Geological Survey and others 7.4 by the United States Geophysical Institute (USGS).

The epicenter was located in the department of crashedon the Pacific coast, near San José del Palmarat a depth between 82 and 100 kilometers. Despite the deep hypocenter, the power of the earthquake shook buildings in the main Colombian metropolises, including Bogota e Calipushing the population into the streets. The tremor was clearly felt up until Ecuador (with buildings evacuated in Quito) and others Panamawhere several hospital complexes and facilities were evacuated in the capital and in the east of the country.

Stop for 7 airports

The most dramatic situation is recorded in the departments of Risaralda and of Cauca Valley. A Pereirathe capital of Risaralda known for its coffee plantations, dozens of buildings literally crumbled, trapping many people under the debris.

There was also considerable damage to war and civil infrastructures: in addition to the collapses of residential buildings, the authorities ordered the immediate closure of seven airports — Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, Cali and Buenaventura — to verify the tightness and safety of the runways and control systems.