The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday has risen to 224, local authorities said on Tuesday, as rescue teams continue search...
The death toll from the powerful earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday has risen to 224, local authorities said on Tuesday, as rescue teams continue searching damaged buildings for survivors.
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia early on Monday, causing buildings to collapse and leaving people trapped beneath rubble in several cities. The scale of the destruction has prompted a major rescue and recovery operation as authorities assess the damage.
The United States Geological Survey recorded the earthquake at a depth of about 107 kilometres near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department on Colombia’s Pacific coast. The earthquake was felt in major cities across the country.
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The death toll has continued to rise as emergency teams reach areas affected by the earthquake and search through collapsed structures. Earlier reports on Tuesday had put the number of deaths lower, with Reuters reporting at least 164 fatalities as rescue operations entered a second day.
More than 2,700 people have also been reported missing, according to ABC, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the final number of casualties as rescue efforts continue.
Cali has been among the hardest-hit areas. Reuters reported that at least 85 people had died in the city, while hundreds of others were injured. Parts of hospitals were damaged, forcing patients to be treated outside buildings as authorities dealt with the impact of the earthquake.
Pereira has also reported heavy losses and structural damage. Reuters said the city recorded 66 deaths in its earlier update, while its airport was among the infrastructure affected by the earthquake. Manizales was also affected, with buildings damaged in the city.
The earthquake also caused deaths in Chocó, the department close to the epicentre. Rescue teams have been working across affected communities as authorities search for people who may still be trapped under collapsed buildings.
Emergency operations continued into Tuesday, with rescue workers and volunteers searching through rubble for survivors. Reuters reported that rescuers had pulled survivors from collapsed structures, including a baby and her mother, during the ongoing operation.
The earthquake has also affected transport and public infrastructure. Airports in affected areas faced disruption, while authorities imposed curfews in some cities amid concerns about looting. President Abelardo De La Espriella announced the deployment of 1,000 security personnel to Cali as part of the response.
The disaster has become the first major crisis for De La Espriella’s administration after he was sworn in as president only days before the earthquake. His government has made rescue operations and the delivery of assistance to affected communities a priority.
The earthquake has also brought renewed attention to the risk of major earthquakes in the region. Reuters reported that the quake was the strongest to strike Colombia this century, while the Colombian Geological Service described it as the country’s most powerful earthquake in decades.
The region has a history of major seismic activity, and the latest earthquake occurred in an area affected by the tectonic activity associated with the Pacific region. The depth of the earthquake meant that its effects were felt far from the epicentre, including in several major Colombian cities.
Rescue operations are expected to remain the focus as authorities work to establish the full extent of the damage and determine the number of people still missing. The number of deaths could change as teams reach more affected areas and continue searching collapsed buildings.
For residents in the affected communities, the immediate priority remains finding people who may still be trapped and providing assistance to those who have lost homes, relatives or access to essential services.
The latest death toll of 224 is therefore not necessarily the final figure. Authorities and emergency teams are continuing their work, while the reported number of missing people means the scale of the disaster could become clearer in the coming days.
