A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia today, leading to a major loss of life and significant structural damage across several cities. President Abelardo de la Espriella confirmed that the death toll has reached 111 individuals as rescue crews continue to search through debris in the hardest-hit provinces of Risaralda and Chocó.
Emergency teams report that at least 61 buildings collapsed during the event, including portions of the Metropolitan Cathedral in Manizales. The earthquake forced the immediate suspension of operations at six regional airports and left many residents without electricity, gas, or running water. Witnesses described a scene of chaos as structures gave way in densely populated urban centers like Pereira and Cali.
President de la Espriella has declared a state of national disaster to accelerate the distribution of emergency funds and bypass bureaucratic hurdles. This legal status allows the government to mobilize state resources directly to the affected regions and coordinate relief teams from Bogotá. The president remains on the ground to supervise recovery operations while rescue workers focus on trapped survivors.
International leaders have offered assistance to the Colombian government as the country faces the aftermath of the strongest earthquake in the region in over a decade. The European Union has deployed its Copernicus satellite service to provide aerial mapping of the damage, while neighboring nations including Mexico and Ecuador have also pledged support for the recovery mission.