Magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia: death toll reaches 77
The death toll from a powerful earthquake in western Colombia has risen to at least 77 people. Rescuers continue to clear rubble from destroyed buildings, so casualty figures may change, Reuters reports.
The earthquake occurred on the morning of August 10. The magnitude of the tremor reached 7.4, and the epicenter was in the west of the country in the department of Chocó. Strong shaking was felt in major cities, including Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Bogotá, as well as outside Colombia.
One of the worst-affected areas was the Pereira metropolitan area. Local authorities previously reported dozens of dead. Significant destruction was also recorded in Cali, where dozens of structures collapsed and people were trapped under the rubble. As search and rescue efforts continue, the number of confirmed victims has continued to grow.
The earthquake damaged residential and public buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. In several cities, emergency services are surveying damaged homes and searching for people under the debris. Authorities urged residents not to return to buildings with cracks and other signs of damage due to the risk of further collapses and aftershocks.
Aviation also experienced serious disruptions. Following the earthquake, the airports of Cali, Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura suspended operations. Restrictions were imposed to check the condition of terminals and other infrastructure after the strong tremors.
In the capital city of Bogotá, the earthquake forced people to evacuate buildings, but the most severe consequences fell on the western regions. Tremors were also felt in Ecuador and Panama.
The search and rescue operation continues. The full scale of the destruction and the number of affected people are not yet determined, as rescue workers continue to operate at the most heavily damaged sites.
