7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Western Colombia

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, with its epicenter located near San Jose del Palmar in the Choco department. The tremor was felt across the country, including in the capital, Bogota, and reached as far as neighboring Ecuador and Venezuela. Numerous buildings collapsed, particularly in cities like Cali and Pereira, leaving many residents trapped under debris. Emergency services and rescue teams were immediately deployed to the affected regions to locate survivors and provide medical assistance to the hundreds reported injured.

In response to the widespread destruction, the Colombian government declared a state of emergency to accelerate relief efforts. Several airports were temporarily closed as authorities assessed the damage to infrastructure. While no tsunami warning was issued, officials have warned of the potential for aftershocks. The death toll has risen as rescue operations continue, with thousands of homes and dozens of buildings reported damaged or destroyed across the impacted provinces.