Colombia earthquake of magnitude 7.4 causes deaths and widespread damage FAST-MOVING

earthquake Colombia Chocó seismic activity natural disaster

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday morning, with its epicenter located near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. The tremor, which occurred at approximately 07:34 local time, was felt extensively across Colombia, including Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, and Manizales, as well as in neighboring Ecuador and Panama.

Preliminary reports indicate significant casualties and structural damage. At least 24 people are reported dead, with high concentrations of fatalities in Pereira and Manizales. In the Chocó department, Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi confirmed numerous injuries and severe building collapses in Quibdó. Major landmarks, such as the Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica in Manizales, have sustained heavy damage, and several buildings in Cali have also collapsed or suffered major cracking.

Infrastructure has been heavily impacted. Aviation authorities reported damage to airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura. In Medellín, metro services were suspended for safety inspections. President Abelardo de la Espriella has assumed leadership of the emergency response, establishing a Unified Command Post to coordinate rescue efforts and aid to the most affected regions, including the Eje Cafetero and Chocó. Authorities have also warned of potential aftershocks.

Entities

Abelardo De La Espriella · Bogotá · Chocó · Colombia · Cúcuta · European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre · Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi · San José del Palmar · Servicio Geológico Colombiano · United States Geological Survey

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 3 SOURCES] The Mayor of Bogotá stated that no injuries had been reported in the capital at the time of his report. elatlantico.do · loultimodigital.com
[DISPUTED] The Colombian Geological Service initially reported a magnitude between 6.6 and 6.7. www.haberts.com · radiosampaio.com.br · elatlantico.do · loultimodigital.com
[● 6 SOURCES] The Metropolitan Cathedral Basilica in Manizales sustained heavy damage. radiosampaio.com.br · www.catalunyapress.es · digital58.com.ve · loultimodigital.com · xeu.mx
[● 18 SOURCES] The Governor of Chocó reported injuries and serious building damage in Quibdó. www.origo.hu · actualidad.rt.com · radiosampaio.com.br · bavarodigital.net · www.cablenoticias.com · +10 more
[● 31 SOURCES] The earthquake epicenter was located near San José del Palmar in the Chocó department. www.in.gr · www.haberts.com · www.origo.hu · www.valoraanalitik.com · actualidad.rt.com · +24 more
[DISPUTED] The earthquake magnitude was 7.4. www.in.gr · radiosampaio.com.br · www.diaridetarragona.com · www.revistagente.com · xeu.mx · +19 more
[● 4 SOURCES] The USGS estimated the earthquake magnitude at 7.4 with a depth of 107 km. radiosampaio.com.br · loultimodigital.com · www.diarioelpulso.cl
[● 21 SOURCES] The earthquake was felt in Bogotá, Medellín, Cali, Manizales, and parts of Ecuador. www.in.gr · radiosampaio.com.br · bavarodigital.net · elatlantico.do · www.cablenoticias.com · +15 more
[● 2 SOURCES] Two people died in Manizales. portalterradaluz.com.br · www.cnnbrasil.com.br
[● 2 SOURCES] At least 18 people died in Pereira. alertas24.com · www.cnnbrasil.com.br
[● 3 SOURCES] The earthquake caused damage to airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura. radiosampaio.com.br · alertas24.com · www.cnnbrasil.com.br
[● 5 SOURCES] The earthquake was felt in Ecuador and Panama. radiosampaio.com.br · www.revistagente.com · alertas24.com · koktejl.azet.sk · revistapuntodevista.com.mx