Strong Earthquake Strikes Colombia: Epicenter Near San José del Palmar

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia and Ecuador, killing at least 111 people and damaging more than 1,600 buildings, according to Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella. The U.S. Geological Survey reported the epicenter was located 5 kilometers east of San José del Palmar, Colombia.

President De La Espriella declared a national disaster on Monday afternoon to coordinate emergency response and mobilization efforts. The quake caused widespread structural failures across multiple departments, leaving numerous residents trapped in rubble.

In Cali, Colombia’s third largest city, Mayor Alejandro Eder reported that at least 20 buildings collapsed. The disaster coincided with the start of a weeklong festival celebrating Afro-Pacific culture, an event that typically attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists to the city. Emergency teams established tents in the area to manage rescue operations for those trapped inside fallen structures.

Local resident Luis Angel Sarria told NBC News that the shaking was severe, noting the high number of fatalities and damaged buildings in the city.

The earthquake’s impact extended across several regions with varying death tolls reported by local officials:

• Valle Del Cauca: Governor Dilian Francisca Toro reported 27 deaths, including three children.
• Chocó: Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba-Curi reported 12 deaths and 84 injuries as of 1:02 p.m.
• Pereira: Mayor Mauricio Salazar reported 18 deaths.
• Manizales: Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas reported two deaths.

Governor Toro stated that the University Hospital of the Valley experienced structural collapses, though rescue and evacuation operations were completed on Monday.

In the department of Chocó, Governor Córdoba-Curi used the social media platform X to report serious building damage in the capital city of Quibdó, located approximately 188 miles northwest of the epicenter. She noted that damage assessments were underway to produce an official report.

The quake’s intensity caused significant distress for residents in outlying areas. Maria Alejandra Soto Zea, a 27-year-old mother in Jamundí, told NBC News she was unable to evacuate her apartment quickly while carrying her 2-year-old son. She described holding onto a kitchen counter during the shaking before descending seven stories via the stairs. Soto Zea reported packing bags on Monday afternoon to relocate to relatives’ homes due to fears of aftershocks.

Transportation infrastructure suffered immediate disruptions. Colombia’s civil aviation authority announced the suspension of flights at several airports pending structural damage assessments. The affected facilities include:

• Pereira
• Manizales
• Quibdó
• Armenia
• Cartago
• Buenaventura

José Gallegos, who was inside the Pereira airport when the earthquake hit, posted videos to Instagram showing himself seeking cover under a table as plumes of dust filled the area.