A powerful earthquake struck Colombia's Pacific coast on Monday, triggering widespread damage, injuries, and widespread panic across the region. The massive tremor, measuring 7.4 in magnitude, sent strong shockwaves hundreds of kilometres away to the capital city of Bogotá, where authorities ordered the evacuation of several buildings as the ground shook violently.
Epicentre and Depth Details
According to Colombia's geological service, the seismic event occurred at 07:34 local time, corresponding to 12:34 GMT. The earthquake originated at a considerable depth of 96km, which is approximately 60 miles underground. Its epicentre was located just 5km east of the village of San José del Palmar. Despite its epicenter being in a specific regional pocket, the tremors were forceful enough to travel vast distances, reaching Bogotá and prompting immediate safety protocols in high-rise structures.
Governor Warns of Aftershocks
Nubia Carolina Córdoba, governor of Chocó province, confirmed that individuals had sustained injuries as a direct result of the disaster, though she refrained from providing an exact casualty count at this stage. Governor Córdoba also expressed serious concern regarding the high probability of subsequent aftershocks hitting the battered region, urging residents to remain vigilant as emergency response teams assess the full scale of the destruction.
Collapsed Structures in Manizales
Footage shared by the Colombian newspaper El Tiempo from the city of Manizales, located within the nation's primary coffee-growing region, highlighted the devastating impact of the tremors. The video captured a severely collapsed building alongside distressed residents shouting out in panic for individuals feared trapped beneath piles of rubble and concrete debris.
Context of Recent Regional Seismicity
This latest disaster comes in the wake of other major seismic upheavals in South America. The earthquake occurred less than two months after devastating twin quakes struck the northern region of neighbouring Venezuela, a catastrophic event that resulted in the deaths of more than 6,100 people.
