A 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit the Pacific coast this Monday morning (10), with effects in Colombia. To date, 20 people have died. Additionally, buildings were torn down in several cities in the center and west of the country. Rescue teams continue to search for victims under the rubble, and the number of injured has not yet been confirmed by local authorities.
The tremor had its epicenter in San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, and was registered at 7:34 am (local time). According to the Colombian Geological Survey (SGC), the event had a depth of around 100 kilometers. The shock was felt in Colombian cities such as Bogotá and Cali.
So far, the city most affected has been Pereira. Mayor Mauricio Salazar confirmed that at least 18 victims were from the city, saying that the situation is “critical”. In addition to the collapsed buildings, the local airport suffered damage, with the roof of the structure falling apart. In Manizales, two people died, while one of the towers of the metropolitan cathedral suffered damage. Facades fell in several parts of the city.
Meanwhile, in Chocó, governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba reported “serious damage” to buildings. Cali, in turn, recorded at least 20 collapsed structures, and there are people trapped in the rubble. In the capital, Bogotá, despite the absence of serious structural data, there was a preventive evacuation of the population.
The new Colombian president, Abelardo de la Espriella, said he took direct command of the emergency response, ordering the installation of a unified command post. He will travel to Pereira to monitor the work of the rescue teams.
Shortly after the first earthquake, the SGC recorded aftershocks of magnitude 4.8 in San José del Palmar and 4.6 in Nóvita. For now, there is no risk of a tsunami on the Pacific coast.
This Monday’s tremor was also felt in Ecuador, Venezuela and Panama. In Brazil, cities like Manaus (AM) also felt the tremors, but there are no reports of injuries in the capital of Amazonas.
Source: www.brasildefato.com.br
