At least 27 people have been killed after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday morning, toppling buildings, trapping people beneath debris and sending thousands fleeing their homes.
The earthquake struck at approximately 7:34 a.m. local time on August 10, with its epicentre recorded about three miles outside San José del Palmar, a western Colombian town of roughly 5,000 people.
The violent shaking was felt across the country, including in the major cities of Bogota and Cali, as residents rushed from buildings and sought shelter from falling debris.
Authorities are still assessing the full extent of the destruction, and the death toll could rise as emergency teams continue operations in affected communities. Dozens of buildings and other structures have reportedly sustained severe damage, while thousands of people are expected to have been impacted.
The Colombian Geological Service reported that the earthquake occurred at a depth of approximately 107 kilometres, or 66 miles, with neighbouring communities including El Cairo and El Aguila also affected.
The initial earthquake was followed by aftershocks measuring 2.8 and 4.8 magnitude, adding to fears among residents already displaced by the disaster.
There are also concerns that the earthquake could trigger further hazards. The United States Geological Survey has identified parts of the affected region as being at risk of landslides and flooding.
Monday’s disaster comes amid a series of seismic events in the region. A 5.5-magnitude earthquake was recorded in the Pacific approximately seven hours earlier and affected three cities in neighbouring Ecuador, while a 4.6-magnitude earthquake was reported in Satipo, Peru, nearly a day earlier.
Humanitarian organisation Direct Relief said it is monitoring health needs in Colombia and preparing medical aid to support the emergency response as authorities work to determine the true scale of the disaster.
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake is reported to be the strongest to occur in Colombia in a decade.
