A magnitude 7.4 earthquake [1] killed at least two people [2] and caused significant structural damage in Colombia on Friday morning.
The disaster highlights the vulnerability of historic infrastructure in seismic zones and the immediate risk to urban centers during high-magnitude events.
In Manizales, the quake caused the collapse of the tower of the Catedral Basílica Metropolitana de Nuestra Señora del Rosario. The building suffered severe structural damage, according to a reporter from MSN Colombia.
Local authorities responded by cordoning off hospitals and shopping centers to facilitate the removal of debris, a spokesperson for the Gobernación de Caldas said. The earthquake also left power and gas services suspended in parts of the Eje Cafetero.
Reports regarding the epicenter of the seismic activity are contradictory. One report placed the epicenter in Chocó, Colombia [1], while another report stated the epicenter was 135 km southwest [3] of Ciudad Hidalgo, Chiapas, Mexico.
The report from Mexico noted that the Secretaría de Marina activated a tsunami alert following the magnitude 7.4 [3] event on Friday morning, a spokesperson for the agency said.
In Colombia, the impact was felt heavily in the Plaza de Bolívar, where the cathedral collapse occurred. Emergency crews continue to work in the affected areas to ensure public safety, and clear the streets of rubble.
“A magnitude 7.4 earthquake killed at least two people and caused significant structural damage.”
The conflicting reports regarding the earthquake's epicenter—split between Colombia and Mexico—suggest a potential overlap of seismic events or reporting errors during the initial emergency phase. However, the physical destruction in Manizales underscores the urgent need for seismic retrofitting of colonial-era religious architecture in South America to prevent further loss of life during inevitable tectonic shifts.
