On Monday, a 7.4‑magnitude earthquake rattled western Colombia at 07:34 local time. The quake was felt across hundreds of kilometres, bringing dramatic shaking to the major cities of Cali, Pereira and Manizales.
The official death toll stands at 181, but aggregated local data suggests that more than 240 people may have lost their lives. Over 2,600 people were injured and almost 200 remain missing. In Cali, the capital of the Valle del Cauca department, 95 people have been confirmed dead and 45 buildings have collapsed or were partially destroyed.
Rescue teams are working around the clock to clear rubble and free trapped survivors. A unified command post has been established in Cali to coordinate the effort, with firefighters and volunteers working to lift heavy debris. The mayor of Cali, Alejandro Eder, confirmed that 239 people remain trapped, while 949 residents have been injured.
In the suburb of Calima, a section of the Gimnasio Calima school collapsed, killing four children. The mayor of the municipality, Antonio Cadavid, issued a curfew from 20:00 until 06:00 to prevent looting and keep the area safe while rescue operations continue.
Pereira, one of Colombia’s worst affected cities, has also suffered significant loss. Here, 79 people have died and 1,100 homes were damaged or destroyed. The city has declared a car‑free day to allow civilians to aid search efforts, and volunteers have been seen clearing debris and searching for survivors.
According to Colombia’s geological service, more than 70 aftershocks have already struck the country since the initial quake. Two 3.6‑magnitude aftershocks occurred early Tuesday in San José del Palmar and Santander. Citizens in cities such as Manizales and Medellín are urged to remain cautious amidst the ongoing tremors.
International support is rolling in. UN Secretary‑General António Guterres expressed solidarity with the Colombian people, while Spain reported that 164 of its citizens were still missing. The former U.S. president Donald Trump announced a donation of $15.5 million to aid the country’s recovery. Other countries, including Ecuador, Brazil, El Salvador and Venezuela, have also offered assistance.
At the center of the devastation, a map demonstrates the intensity of shaking across the region, highlighting the most severely affected areas, while an accompanying satellite image shows the wide reach of the quake’s impact.
See the photo below of firefighters in Cali working to free survivors from rubble following the earthquake.
