A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 132 people [1, 2].
The disaster has caused widespread destruction in rural and urban areas, forcing the government to declare a state of emergency to coordinate relief efforts [6].
The quake hit at 7:34 local time on Aug. 10 [5, 6]. Colombian authorities, including the Association colombienne des villes capitales, said the tremor resulted in at least 132 deaths [1, 2] and 570 injuries [3]. While some early reports suggested a lower death toll of 111, official counts have since risen.
Impact was most severe in the Chocó department of western Colombia [1, 3]. The tremors were also felt strongly in areas near the capital, Bogotá [4]. According to reports, the earthquake occurred at a depth of about 100 km [4].
Rescue teams are currently searching through rubble for survivors. The magnitude of the event was recorded at 7.4 [1], though some initial reports listed it as 6.6 [4]. Authorities said they are prioritizing the delivery of medical aid and shelter to the hardest-hit regions of the west coast.
International aid is beginning to mobilize. The European Union said it is supporting the Colombian people and is providing assistance to help the nation recover from the seismic event [6].
“A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 132 people.”
The severity of the casualties relative to the earthquake's depth suggests that infrastructure in the Chocó department may be particularly vulnerable to seismic activity. The declaration of a state of emergency allows the Colombian government to bypass certain bureaucratic hurdles to accelerate the deployment of military and medical resources to remote western regions.
