Powerful 7.4 Magnitude Earthquake Devastates Western Colombia, Death Toll Climbs Past 70

A devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake rocked western Colombia on Monday, triggering widespread destruction across multiple municipalities and leaving at least 73 people dead. Dramatic footage captured the moment a building crumbled to the ground as onlookers screamed in alarm, underscoring the quake’s destructive power across the region. Colombia’s geological service confirmed the earthquake struck at a depth of 96 kilometers, while U.S. authorities ruled out tsunami danger from the event.

Pereira, located in Colombia’s coffee-producing zone, emerged as the hardest-hit area with at least 18 confirmed fatalities, according to Mayor Mauricio Salazar. Three deaths were reported in the nearby city of Manizales under Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas, while one person perished in Buenaventura when a building collapsed and trapped additional residents, said Mayor Ligia del Carmen Cordoba.

Cali, one of Colombia’s largest urban centers, faced significant structural damage with more than two dozen buildings collapsing, Mayor Alejandro Eder reported. At least two people have been pulled alive from the debris, including an elderly woman and a young girl, though many others remain trapped beneath collapsed structures across the city.

The earthquake’s epicenter was positioned near San Jose del Palmar in Choco province, a sparsely populated coastal region on the Pacific side. Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi reported injuries and substantial damage in Quibdo, the provincial capital, and cautioned residents to prepare for potential aftershocks.

Colombia’s civil aviation authority suspended all flights at six major airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura pending structural inspections. The 7:34 a.m. local time earthquake was felt across nine Colombian departments and all 32 departmental capitals, prompting emergency evacuations and damage assessments nationwide.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated the Trump Administration was monitoring the situation closely and prepared to assist Colombia’s government and President Gustavo Petro’s administration. American citizens in Colombia were directed to register with the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program for updated information and consular support.

The tremor was also felt across the border in Venezuela’s Tachira state and the city of Barquisimeto, according to Reuters witnesses. This comes two years after devastating twin earthquakes struck Venezuela in June, killing more than 6,000 people predominantly along the coast near Caracas.