Colombia is reeling from one of its most powerful earthquakes in recent history, leaving at least 132 people dead and sparking a nationwide state of emergency. The magnitude 7.4 tremor struck early Monday morning with an epicenter near San José del Palmar in Chocó province. While the remote village nearest the quake miraculously avoided casualties, the devastation shifted toward the heart of the country’s coffee growing region. In the city of Pereira, officials report at least 40 deaths and dozens of collapsed structures, including a building that crumbled into Plaza Bolívar as crowds gathered in panic.
The scale of the tragedy continues to grow as search and rescue teams scramble to locate survivors buried beneath rubble. Over 480 people have been injured, and more than 1,500 homes have been damaged across various departments. In Cali, thirty two buildings collapsed, sending residents fleeing into the streets in their pajamas as walls cracked and plaster peeled away. Further north in Manizales, witnesses described scenes of terror as bricks rained down from neighboring buildings and screams filled the air during the violent shaking.
President Abelardo de la Espriella, who assumed office just last Friday, has declared a national disaster situation to expedite funding and resources for the recovery effort. This sudden crisis marks a harrowing start to his presidency as he navigates a catastrophe that affected an estimated 1.5 million people. Regional airports in several cities have suffered significant damage, complicating logistics for aid workers arriving from within Colombia and abroad.
International support is already pouring in as global leaders monitor the unfolding situation. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed readiness to assist, while European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen confirmed that Copernicus satellites are being utilized to map destruction and guide rescue operations. Despite the immense distance from the epicenter, tremors were felt as far away as Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama, underscoring the sheer power of a quake that has left thousands homeless and a nation in mourning.