A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia early Tuesday, killing at least 169 people and prompting the government to declare a state of emergency. The quake, one of the largest to hit the country in years, occurred at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT) at a depth of 103 kilometres (64 miles) in Chocó province, according to the national geological service.
Authorities warn the death toll is likely to rise as rescue teams search for survivors feared trapped beneath collapsed buildings. At least 900 people have been injured, according to an update from Colombia’s Association of Capital Cities (Asocapitales).
The tremor was felt across a vast swath of western Colombia, spanning hundreds of miles. While the epicentre was near the village of San José del Palmar in Chocó province, the heaviest casualties occurred in urban centres far from the source. Cali, the nation’s third-largest city located roughly 200 kilometres from the epicentre, bore the brunt with 85 confirmed deaths. In Pereira, the heart of Colombia’s coffee-growing region, 66 people were killed. Verified footage showed a building collapsing in Plaza Bolívar, Pereira’s main square, sending clouds of dust and debris across the public space where crowds had gathered.
Remarkably, local mayor León Fabio Marín Moncada reported no deaths or injuries in San José del Palmar itself, though roads leading in and out of the area sustained significant damage. Asocapitales noted that the majority of fatalities were concentrated in cities rather than the rural epicentral zone.
Dan Cutler, a 29-year-old visitor from London, was in Cali when the quake struck. “I’ve never experienced anything like it,” he said. “We sprinted outside in our pyjamas. There’s no major structural damage to the hotel, but there are surface cracks in the walls, and paint and plaster have peeled off.”
Emergency services are racing to reach isolated communities where landslides and damaged infrastructure have cut off access. The government has mobilised national disaster response units, and international aid offers are being assessed. With aftershocks continuing to rattle the region, officials urge residents to remain vigilant and follow evacuation orders where issued. The full scale of the destruction to homes, hospitals, and critical infrastructure is still being assessed as Colombia faces one of its most severe natural disasters in recent memory.
