Earthquake rocks Colombia, at least 30 people die

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake, with the epicenter at a depth of 100 km in the western region of Colombia, shook this country on August 10. Tremors were also felt in neighboring Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.

Alejandro Eder, mayor of Cali, Colombia’s third largest city, said at least 20 buildings collapsed in the quake and many people were trapped under the rubble.

In the city of Pereira, at least 18 people were killed. Mayor Mauricio Salazar said “the situation is very serious”. The governor of the Valle del Cauca region said four people in the area, including three children, died in the earthquake. Eight other deaths were recorded in neighboring cities.

The governor of Colombia’s Choco province said on social network X that the province’s capital Quibdo had suffered serious damage from the earthquake, with many houses collapsed. Choco was the epicenter of the earthquake and the number of deaths in this area was not immediately known.

Mr. Alejandro Eder, Mayor of Cali, Colombia’s third largest city, said that at least 20 buildings collapsed and many people were trapped. He said the process of assessing the extent of damage is being done using drones.

Colombians described the earthquake as “extremely strong”. “There is no electricity or phone signal right now. The earthquake was really intense, things in my house fell down,” said Martha Estrada, a 66-year-old resident of Eje Cafetero.

Colombia’s civil aviation agency said six small airports in the western part of the country have temporarily suspended operations. President Abelardo de la Espriella announced he would visit the area affected by the earthquake.

On June 24, neighboring Venezuela also suffered two consecutive earthquakes with magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, killing more than 6,000 people and causing heavy property damage.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) warned that the earthquake in Colombia could “cause major casualties” as well as serious property damage.