Bogota.- At least 132 people have died and 570 were injured as a result of the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia, while emergency agencies continue to remove rubble in search of survivors in the most affected cities and communities.
The balance remains subject to change because there are still people trapped or unaccounted for, mainly in areas where buildings and homes collapsed. The first 48 hours after the disaster are considered critical for finding victims alive among the destroyed structures.
The seismic movement occurred at 7:34 in the morning on Monday, August 10 and had its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó. The Colombian Geological Service (SGC) established its magnitude at 7.4 and reported a depth close to 100 kilometers.
The institution also confirmed that this is the largest magnitude earthquake recorded in Colombia during the 21st century. At least 18 aftershocks had occurred after the main event and specialists warned that they could continue.
Although the epicenter was located in Chocó, some of the most serious consequences were recorded in Pereira and Cali, in addition to damage in Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, and other locations in western and central Colombia.
In Cali, for example, reports available this Tuesday placed the number of deceased at at least 35, while some 188 remained missing. Emergency teams continue working among collapsed structures in search of trapped people.
The human dimension of the tragedy began to be known a few hours after the earthquake. An initial official toll had counted 111 dead and 87 injured, but the figure increased progressively as relief agencies managed to access new areas and hospitals updated their records.
In addition to the fatalities, hundreds of people have required medical assistance. Hospitals and health centers in the affected regions received the injured while some of their own facilities suffered structural damage, hindering the emergency response.
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Material destruction is also considerable. Official data indicate that 1,575 homes suffered damage and 37 were completely destroyed, while 61 residential and commercial buildings collapsed. Damage was also reported to health centers, schools, roads, and airports.
Rescue operations are concentrated precisely on those collapsed buildings, where authorities fear that people may still remain under the rubble. Specialized teams, firefighters, military personnel, police, and volunteers are participating in the efforts.
President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national disaster and activated the Unified Command Post to coordinate the State’s response. The Government mobilized personnel, heavy machinery, and resources to the most affected departments.
The authorities have also asked for caution regarding the released figures, as the magnitude of the emergency still makes it impossible to establish a definitive number of victims.
The earthquake also affected air infrastructure. Commercial operations were suspended at several airports in western Colombia due to damage caused by the movement, complicating communications and the transport of resources to some regions.
The Colombian Geological Service explained that the phenomenon is related to the tectonic dynamics of the Pacific, where the Nazca plate is subducting beneath the South American plate, releasing energy capable of producing seismic movements of great magnitude.
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For now, the main challenge does not consist solely of calculating material damage. The priority is to locate those who remain missing and prevent the death toll of 132 from continuing to rise.
As relatives search for information in hospitals and shelters and rescuers work among collapsed structures, Colombia faces one of its most serious natural emergencies in recent decades, with a human toll that cannot yet be considered final.
