Colombia earthquake: How 7.4 temblor has left Choco and coffee region in ruin

“Everyone was screaming… I saw dust coming out of the neighbouring buildings, and bricks were falling off the walls,” said Angélica Ávila as a 7.4-strong earthquake struck Colombia, causing unprecedented deaths and devastation.

The quake struck at 07:34 am local time at a depth of 103 kilometres in Chocó province on Monday (August 10), the country’s geological service said. It was felt across an enormous area, stretching for hundreds of miles across western Colombia.

As of now, the powerful temblor, believed to be the country’s strongest recorded “in the 21st century,” has killed at least 169 people, with the death toll expected to rise as authorities sift through rubble with bare hands and buckets, hunting for survivors.

Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella, who was sworn into office just days before the disaster struck the nation, has declared a state of emergency. “To the Colombians who are going through difficult times today, I want to say: you are not alone,” he said. “You have a President who cares deeply for his people and who will do everything necessary to protect you, support you, and move forward together in rebuilding the affected regions.”

When and where did the earthquake happen?

A 7.4-magnitude quake hit Colombia at 07.34 am local time, with the epicentre in San José del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region. Two smaller aftershocks followed, with magnitudes of 2.8 and 4.8.

The shaking reached far beyond the epicentre. People felt it in Bogotá, about 150 miles away, where alarms went off, and residents fled their buildings as a safety step. Tremors also reached Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama.

How powerful was the quake that hit Colombia?

The Colombian Geological Service reported that the quake that struck on Monday was 7.4 in magnitude and struck at a depth of about 103 km.

This makes it the country’s strongest recorded “in the 21st century.” According to experts at the US Geological Survey, the quake was likely caused by movement along a deep fault within the Nazca tectonic plate.

Experts note that Colombia’s location at the intersection of several tectonic plates makes it prone to strong seismic activity. As per a BBC report, since 1950, more than 3,500 people have died as a direct result of earthquakes in Colombia. The deadliest occurred in 1999, when a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Coffee Region, leaving 1,185 dead.

In fact, Colombia lies along the “Ring of Fire”, the line of seismic faults where most of the earthquakes occur.

How devastating has the quake been in Colombia?

Monday’s quake has caused unprecedented death and destruction in Colombia. A total of 169 people have died so far, with the most deaths being recorded from the city of Pereira, in the country’s coffee-growing region, with surrounding cities and the Valle del Cauca region also hit hard.

In Pereira, photos and videos published by local media showed pieces of the airport ceiling falling down on travellers taking shelter and screaming, and people running through rubble in a panic.

Pereira’s mayor, Mauricio Salazar, told a local radio station that at least 18 people had died and that many more were trapped under “a massive quantity of collapsed buildings.”

In nearby Manizales, one of the towers of the neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed and fell on the nave. Jorge Eduardo Rojas, the mayor of Manizales, said two people had died in the city “because of the quake” and asked residents to stay outside in case of aftershocks.

Authorities in the rural state of Choco, the epicentre of the quake, reported people getting injured and damaged buildings in the capital, but provided few details. In Cali, a city of two million people, Mayor Alejandro Eder said residents were trapped in at least 19 buildings that had collapsed.

Colombia’s civil aviation authority has also stated that it had received reports of damage at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura, and that operations there were being suspended “for safety reasons” until the damage had been assessed.

Survivors narrated the moment they experienced the quake, recounting the fear they felt. Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver in Cali, told the Associated Press that he saw plumes of dust shoot up across the city as buildings collapsed. “My entire house shook. I’ve never lived through such a powerful earthquake,” he said. “We’re thanking God we’re alive.”

Isabel Gomez, who ran a small gift shop in Cali, told the BBC that her entire family was now homeless. “It’s a tragedy bigger than anything we’ve seen,” she said. “We really need help.”

According to Dan Cutler, a tourist from the UK, the quake woke him up from his sleep. Currently in Cali, he was quoted as telling the BBC, “I’ve never experienced anything like it.”

“We sprinted outside in our pyjamas. There’s no major structural damage to the hotel, but there are surface cracks in the walls, and paint and plaster have peeled off. Other areas of the city have been shut down, the power is out, and there are signs of weaker structures having been destroyed.”

Now, officials and volunteers are trying to sift through the rubble to dig people out. “We are trying to get everyone out alive,” said one of the volunteers. “One of the rescuers asked anyone trapped to whistle, and someone whistled back.”

Across Colombia, one can now see rescuers forming human chains to remove bricks and masonry, and trying to listen for signs of life from those trapped below. “A lot of people have come, with supplies, with food, helping the firefighters, helping the people,” said one rescuer.

Experts note that rescue operations will be affected as the Choco region, is one of Colombia’s poorest and nestled in dense jungle. Much of Choco is only reachable by boat or plane, which may pose difficulty in assessing the wider toll.

How is the government responding to the quake?

Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella has declared the quake a national emergency. This move allows him special powers to move government money quickly toward the emergency response.

He also noted on X that he would be travelling to the nation’s capital, Bogotá, “to focus on addressing the emergency facing our country.”

How have other countries come forward with help?

Soon after the quake struck Colombia, messages of support came in from countries across the region and the world.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said America was “closely monitoring” the situation and “stands ready to support the people of Colombia”. Washington also announced a whopping $15.5 million in emergency relief.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen said the EU had mobilised Copernicus, a satellite service, to help with rescue operations. Other European leaders also voiced their support for Colombia.

France’s Emmanuel Macron said, “I extend, on behalf of France, my most sincere thoughts to the Colombian people. In this ordeal, Colombia can count on our friendship and our support.”

Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister, said she was “anxiously” following updates: “In these difficult hours, Italy stands in solidarity with the Colombian people, the affected families, and all those engaged in rescue and assistance operations.”

Meanwhile, Colombia’s neighbouring countries have also offered assistance. El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said he was in communication with officials in Colombia and is “ready to provide immediate support with our rescue teams, medical personnel, paramedics, supplies, or any other assistance that our Colombian brothers and sisters deem necessary”.

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa Azin also pledged support, offering 47 rescuers, specialised dogs, and equipment with autonomy to operate for seven days. Mexico’s Claudia Shienbaum also echoed that sentiment. “Of course, all the support that the people of Colombia may require; we’ll be there.”

With inputs from agencies