A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, causing the roof of Matecaña International Airport in Pereira to collapse [1, 3].
The disaster disrupts critical transportation in the Risaralda department and highlights the vulnerability of regional infrastructure to high-magnitude seismic events.
The earthquake's epicenter was located in San José de Palmar, Chocó [2, 3]. The resulting tremors caused severe structural damage at the airport in Pereira, where a portion of the roof detached and fell [1, 2]. Authorities have closed the facility indefinitely to ensure safety and assess the integrity of the remaining structure [1, 2].
Casualty reports vary across different news agencies. El Colombiano reports at least 40 deaths [2], while Hoy.com.do reports 20 deaths [1]. Another report from El Universal indicates at least 18 deaths [4]. The higher estimate of 40 suggests a wider scale of devastation across the affected areas of Pereira and Manizales [1, 2].
Emergency crews are currently managing landslides and other structural failures caused by the quake [3]. The closure of Matecaña International Airport removes a primary gateway for the region, complicating the arrival of aid, and the movement of displaced persons.
Local officials said the damage to the airport is grave. The structural failure of the roof occurred as a direct result of the 7.4 magnitude shock [1, 2]. Rescue teams continue to search for survivors in the surrounding areas of the epicenter and the cities most affected by the tremors.
“A portion of the roof detached and fell”
The closure of a major international airport during a mass-casualty event creates a logistical bottleneck that can slow emergency response times. The discrepancy in death tolls suggests that official counts are still fluctuating as rescue teams reach remote areas of Chocó and Risaralda.
