A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia early Monday, killing at least 111 people and injuring 87, according to President Abelardo de la Espriella. The quake's epicenter was located on the eastern edge of Choco province along the Pacific coast, near the Tatama National Nature Reserve. Cities including Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdo suffered severe damage, with 61 buildings collapsed and 1,575 homes damaged. The president declared a national state of emergency and confirmed that rescue efforts were underway to locate survivors trapped under rubble.
In Cali, Mayor Alejandro Eder reported at least 20 collapsed structures with people still inside and requested rescue personnel from Bogota and Medellin. Valle del Cauca authorities confirmed 27 deaths in the region before the national tally was released. In Risaralda, officials reported 40 fatalities, including 18 in Pereira. Choco Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi said 12 people had died and 84 were wounded in her region by midday. Manizales Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas confirmed two deaths in the Caldas region. The US Geological Survey confirmed the quake's magnitude at 7.4, matching Colombia's revised measurement.
Six regional airports—Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura—suspended operations due to structural damage, with Cali's airport later added to the list. The European Commission activated its Copernicus satellite system to assist rescue teams, and President Ursula von der Leyen expressed solidarity, saying Europe stands ready to provide further support. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the United States is monitoring the situation and prepared to assist.
The president's declaration of a national emergency comes only hours after his inauguration, placing immediate pressure on his administration to coordinate a fragmented rescue response across multiple jurisdictions. With airports closed and critical infrastructure damaged, the speed of aid delivery will depend on intergovernmental cooperation already being tested in the first days of a new presidency.
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