BOGOTÁ, Colombia — Rescue teams and volunteers have been combing through collapsed buildings in western Colombia after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country, killing at least 111 people and leaving thousands searching for missing relatives.
The earthquake struck shortly after 7:30 a.m. local time on Monday, with the epicentre near San José del Palmar in Chocó, according to the US Geological Survey.
The quake occurred at a depth of about 107 kilometres and was felt across much of Colombia, including Bogotá, as well as in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama.
Authorities said more than 1,600 buildings were damaged, with dozens collapsing completely in some of the worst-affected areas. Cities including Cali, Pereira, Quibdó and Manizales reported significant damage, while remote areas of Chocó faced additional challenges because of difficult terrain and disrupted communications.
Rescuers search rubble for survivors
The scale of the destruction triggered an immediate rescue operation involving emergency workers, security forces and ordinary residents.
In Cali, volunteers used picks, buckets and their bare hands to remove bricks and concrete from collapsed structures as rescuers formed human chains to clear debris.
One volunteer, Andres Felipe Mejia, said rescuers heard a person trapped beneath the rubble and managed to pull out a man and a baby, while continuing efforts to locate the baby’s mother.
The search teams repeatedly stopped work to listen for signs of life from people trapped underneath collapsed buildings.
In Quibdó, residents described scenes of panic as buildings shook violently, with some people fleeing their homes with little or no clothing after being caught off guard by the tremor.
The disaster has also left families anxiously searching for relatives whose whereabouts remain unknown, with reports indicating that thousands of people were initially listed as missing.
State of emergency declared
President Abelardo de la Espriella, who had taken office only days before the earthquake, declared a state of emergency and ordered the mobilisation of national resources for rescue and relief operations.
Hospitals in several cities were placed on red alert as authorities prepared for a surge in casualties, while airports in affected areas were temporarily closed to allow inspections of runways and facilities.
A nighttime curfew was also imposed in Cali as authorities sought to maintain security and protect affected communities.
The earthquake has been described as the strongest to strike Colombia in the 21st century, adding to the scale of the emergency facing the newly inaugurated administration.
International assistance mobilised
The United States announced $15.5 million in emergency assistance to support relief efforts, while the European Union activated its Copernicus satellite service to assist with the response.
Other countries, including Mexico, Ecuador, France and Israel, also offered assistance as Colombia began assessing the full extent of the destruction.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was closely monitoring the situation and stood ready to support Colombians affected by the disaster.
The earthquake has also raised concerns about the vulnerability of communities in Colombia’s mountainous and remote regions, where damaged roads and disrupted communications could slow rescue and relief operations.
As aftershocks continue to be monitored, rescuers remain focused on the possibility of finding survivors beneath collapsed structures. Authorities have warned that the casualty figures could rise as teams gain access to areas that remain difficult to reach.
For families waiting for news of loved ones, the immediate priority remains the same: searching every damaged building and clearing every possible path to those who may still be alive beneath the rubble.
