A powerful earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, causing dozens of deaths and damaging multiple airports [1, 5].
The disaster disrupts critical infrastructure and emergency response efforts in remote regions, complicating rescue operations in the Chocó province.
The quake was detected at 7:34 a.m. [4]. Reports on the magnitude of the event vary between sources, with some reporting a 6.6 magnitude [2] and others citing a 7.4 magnitude [1]. The seismic activity occurred at a depth of 79 km [3].
While the primary impact was felt in the Chocó province of western Colombia [1, 3], the tremors reached as far as Bogotá and the Venezuelan border [2]. The Colombian Civil Aviation Authority said the quake caused damage to multiple airports [1].
The BBC said dozens of people have died [5]. Other reports from CBC News and MSN did not provide specific casualty figures [1].
Emergency teams are currently assessing the scale of the destruction in the western provinces. The region remains on alert for potential aftershocks as officials work to restore transport links and reach isolated communities.
“Dozens reported dead and multiple airports damaged”
The disparity in magnitude reports, ranging from 6.6 to 7.4, suggests an ongoing effort by seismic agencies to calibrate the exact energy release of the event. Because the quake struck a depth of 79 km, the impact was felt across a vast geographical area, including the capital and neighboring countries, highlighting the vulnerability of Colombian infrastructure to deep-seated seismic activity.
