At Least 47 Killed in Powerful Earthquake in Colombia
NEW DELHI, Aug 10: At least 47 people have been killed and scores of others injured while dozens of buildings collapsed in several cities after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday.
The strong tremors trapped people under debris, left several others injured and triggered evacuations in areas as far away as the capital Bogota. The epicentre of the earthquake was in San Jose del Palmar, which is a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region, 400 kilometres west of Bogota. According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake struck at a depth of 107 kilometres. Despite its considerable depth, the quake was strong enough to cause significant damage and was felt across a wide area.
The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Ecuador.
At least 18 of the people killed were from the town of Pereira, mayor Mauricio Salazar said. He also said the situation was “critical.”
Footage shared by local media outlets showed homes and small buildings collapsing in the cities of Pereira, Cali and Quibdo. In Manizales, which is a city 300 kilometres west of Bogota, one of the towers of a neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed.
The earthquake caused widespread damage in parts of western Colombia, with dozens of buildings reported to have collapsed. Several people were trapped beneath the rubble, while others sustained injuries as the strong shaking struck populated areas. The impact also prompted residents to evacuate their homes in multiple locations. The tremors were felt well beyond the immediate epicentre, reaching Bogota and raising concerns among residents in the capital. The reported deaths and injuries have added urgency to rescue and relief efforts as authorities assess the extent of the destruction.
The impact of the earthquake was not limited to Colombia. Tremors were also reported in neighbouring Ecuador, highlighting the wide reach of the powerful seismic event. Residents in affected areas were forced to respond quickly as buildings shook and people rushed out of their homes for safety.
Colombia earthquake follows two powerful quakes that struck Venezuela in late June measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude. Those earthquakes caused extensive destruction, with hundreds of buildings damaged or destroyed and more than 5,000 people reported killed. The latest earthquake in Colombia has once again brought the region’s seismic activity into focus, although the source information does not establish a direct connection between the Colombian and Venezuelan earthquakes.
Although small earthquakes known as “temblores” are common in central and western Colombia, those above 6.0 magnitude are rare. An earthquake of magnitude 6.2 near the city of Armenia killed more than 1,100 people earlier.
After the disaster, Colombia’s newly inaugurated President Abelardo de la Espriella said on Monday that he had taken charge of the government’s response to the emergency in San Jose del Palmar after the earthquake. “You are not alone. The state is present and taking action,” he assured the quake-hit people.
(Manas Dasgupta)
