On Monday at least 20 people died and significant damage occurred after a powerful 7.4-magnitude quake hit the western Colombian city, the armed forces said.
The epicenter for the earthquake was about 250 miles (400 kilometres) west of San José del Palmar, in the Chocó department, near the border with Panama.
The robust tremor was detected throughout the great portion of Colombia, including its nationwide capital of Bogota, in addition to causing evacuation in neighbouring Ecuador.
According to authorities, the first death was in Pereira (18) and in Manizales (2). Emergency operations are ongoing and rescue teams are still scouring damaged buildings with a potential escalation of casualties to be expected as the day goes on.
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Buildings collapsed and people have fled the streets in search of safety as the ground shook in several cities due to the earthquake. Emergency agencies in the affected areas include those in Pereira, Manizales, Cali among others, which initiated rescue and evaluations.
The Earthquake was also experienced as strongly as possible even in the capital of the country, Bogotá, which was located far from the epicentre and yet, very much, caused fear. Residents were asked to stay vigilant against aftershocks, and to comply with the guidance of authorities.
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The search and rescue team personnel are inspecting collapses and are scouting for potential individuals who may be trapped under debris. As more information comes in, assessment of damage to roads, buildings and other critical infrastructure continues in conjunction with emergency authorities.
The disaster situation is constantly changing. Numbers later reported indicate that losses were much greater as they were being rescued, emphasizing that it is very difficult to assess the quick casualty count after a major earthquake.
The presence in Colombia of the earthquake-prone Andean region makes it particularly vulnerable to earthquakes. It has experienced several destructive earthquakes due to its complex system of geological faults.
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Emergency response is currently largely search and rescue, treatment of the injured, structural damage assessment and helping the displaced.
The event has reignited the debate on Colombian urban centres’ seismic safety and vulnerability of building and infrastructure.
