At least 164 dead as 7.4 magnitude earthquake strikes Colombia

Bogota (Web Desk): At least 164 people have lost their lives after a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia and sent strong tremors into neighbouring Ecuador, Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said.

The disaster also left hundreds others injured, while numerous buildings were damaged or brought down.

The president declared an emergency, a move aimed at speeding up the allocation of financial resources for rescue, relief and recovery operations.

“We will not abandon our people. They are in our hearts, and we will stand by them with complete resolve,” de la Espriella said.

The earthquake struck on Monday, with the epicentre located near San José del Palmar in Colombia’s Chocó region.

The municipality has a population of roughly 4,800 and is situated around 250 miles west of the capital, Bogotá. Data from the US Geological Survey and Colombia’s geological service placed the depth of the quake at approximately 66 miles below the surface.

Before the president released the revised national death toll, authorities in several affected areas had already reported dozens of fatalities.

Risaralda, where the badly affected city of Pereira is located, recorded at least 40 deaths, while Valle del Cauca reported another 27. The latter province is also home to Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city.

The governor of Valle del Cauca said three children were among those who died in the province.

Authorities separately confirmed that 18 people had been killed in Pereira, while two fatalities were reported in Manizales as emergency services continued dealing with the aftermath.

The powerful earthquake caused people to become trapped beneath collapsed structures and left dozens injured.

The severity of the tremors also triggered evacuations in several locations, with residents fleeing their homes as far away as Bogotá, where the earthquake was strongly felt.