Colombia Earthquake Death Toll Rises to 111 as Rescue Teams Search Collapsed Buildings
At least 111 people have been killed and dozens more injured after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, bringing down buildings and sending residents fleeing into the streets.
The earthquake struck at about 7:34am local time on Monday, with its epicentre located in the western department of Chocó, according to geological authorities in the United States and Colombia. The tremor was also felt across the border in Venezuela.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said 87 people had been injured and 61 buildings had collapsed as emergency agencies moved into affected communities.
“The national government has all of its capabilities deployed to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver aid wherever it is needed,” the president said in a national address after declaring a state of emergency.
He identified the rescue of people trapped beneath collapsed structures as the government’s immediate priority.
The worst destruction was reported across several western departments. Authorities recorded 27 deaths in Valle del Cauca, while Pereira, the capital of Risaralda, reported 40 fatalities.
At least two people were killed in Manizales, the capital of Caldas.
In Manizales, Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas Giraldo said at least 12 buildings and 20 homes had suffered partial or total destruction. He urged residents to remain outdoors because further tremors could follow.
“Do not go back into the buildings yet. I know this isn’t easy but stay outside for a little while at least because there could be an aftershock,” he said.
Cali was also badly affected. Mayor Alejandro Eder said about 20 buildings had collapsed, with people believed to be trapped inside some of them.
Emergency workers were deployed to assess the damage and identify locations where rescue operations were needed.
Eder also warned residents against entering buildings showing serious structural damage.
“If you do not feel safe, if you see very large cracks, please leave the building,” he said.
Pereira faced an even larger emergency, with Mayor Mauricio Salazar reporting that 65 buildings had collapsed. Victims were believed to be trapped in at least 15 structures, while five hospitals in the city were reportedly overwhelmed by injured residents.
The earthquake left scenes of devastation in several cities. Videos shared online showed residents and rescuers combing through the remains of collapsed buildings, including a four-storey hotel in Cali.
Another recording showed part of San José church in Pereira collapsing as nearby palm trees shook violently.
In Manizales, a separate video captured a building collapsing as residents watched from the street.
Raúl Andrés Buitrago, who works in Pereira, said he was preparing to leave for work when an earthquake alert sounded on his watch.
“There are often little tremors here,” he said. “But I’d never felt an earthquake like this. It started softly, softly, softly, then it felt like it was getting stronger every second.”
Buitrago described the aftermath as terrifying, particularly in the city centre where many older structures are located.
“The roofs started to fall in. The buildings collapsed in on themselves. The panic was terrible. They were the four longest minutes of my life,” he said.
Chocó, where the earthquake was centred, also reported injuries and extensive structural damage. Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba said the department’s capital, Quibdó, had been seriously affected.
President de la Espriella travelled to Quibdó before continuing to Cali as the government intensified its response.
He announced rent assistance for people whose homes had been destroyed and pledged additional security personnel for Cali.
Authorities imposed curfews in Cali, Armenia and Manizales after reports of possible looting. Police and military personnel were deployed to affected areas to protect residents and property.
The earthquake also disrupted air travel, with aviation authorities reporting damage at airports serving Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Cartago, Armenia and Buenaventura.
Rescue operations continued as emergency teams searched damaged structures for survivors while authorities assessed the full scale of the destruction.
The disaster comes weeks after Venezuela was struck by two major earthquakes on 24 June, killing more than 6,000 people and leaving parts of the country’s northern coast devastated.
The United States has also offered assistance. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the Trump administration would provide $15.5 million in emergency aid to support Colombia’s response.
