Earthquake in Colombia Leaves Devastation and High Death Toll

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 struck western Colombia on Monday, claiming the lives of at least 47 people. The quake resulted in the collapse of numerous buildings across several cities, leaving many trapped under the debris.

Footage captured the moment a building crumbled during the earthquake, with horrified screams from witnesses as the structure fell. According to Colombia’s geological service, the earthquake occurred at a depth of 96 km (60 miles). The U.S. tsunami warning system confirmed there was no tsunami risk.

The Trump Administration is closely monitoring the large earthquake that struck Colombia and stands ready to support the people of Colombia,” stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio on X.

In the aftermath, residents in Cali, a major city in Colombia, continued to search through the wreckage of over two dozen collapsed buildings. Mayor Alejandro Eder confirmed that two individuals, an elderly woman and a young girl, had been rescued. He noted, “We have at least 12 critical points and 25 collapsed structures that we are responding to.” Eder also requested disaster teams from Bogota and Medellin to assist in the rescue efforts.

In the city of Pereira, located in Colombia’s coffee-growing region, Mayor Mauricio Salazar reported that 18 people had died. Further casualties were noted in Manizales, with three deaths, and Buenaventura, where a building collapse resulted in one fatality. Mayor Ligia del Carmen Cordoba of Buenaventura reported several people trapped under the rubble.

The earthquake’s epicenter was near San Jose del Palmar in the Choco province, a sparsely populated area on Colombia’s Pacific Coast. Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi, Governor of Choco, reported significant injuries and damage in Quibdo, the provincial capital, and cautioned residents to be aware of aftershocks.

Colombia’s civil aviation authority temporarily suspended flights at multiple airports, including Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura, to inspect for structural damage. The earthquake was felt across nine departments and all 32 departmental capitals of Colombia, resulting in widespread evacuations and reports of damage.

The impact of the quake extended beyond Colombia, with reports of it being felt in Venezuela’s Tachira state and the city of Barquisimeto. Earlier in June, Venezuela experienced devastating earthquakes that resulted in over 6,000 deaths, primarily on the coast near Caracas.

Eric Mack, a breaking news reporter for Fox News, contributed to this report.