A devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia. The death toll has surpassed 230, and rescuers are searching for nearly 200 missing people under the rubble. Croatian institutions are monitoring the situation of their community in the country.
Colombia was hit by its strongest earthquake in a decade, claiming more than 230 lives and injuring over 1,500 people. The epicenter of the 7.4-magnitude quake was near the town of San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, at a depth of 96 kilometers and about 250 kilometers from the capital, Bogotá. The country has been declared a national disaster as a desperate race against time continues to pull survivors from the wreckage.
The earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time, and the Colombian Geological Service measured its depth at 103 kilometers. This is the strongest earthquake recorded in Colombia in the 21st century. By last night, seismologists had registered at least 47 aftershocks, the strongest of which had a magnitude of 4.8, and they warn that ground tremors could last for days, weeks, or even months.
The city of Cali suffered catastrophic destruction. According to initial estimates, around five thousand homes have been destroyed or damaged. The healthcare system is severely strained, with three hospitals completely collapsed and an additional 18 sustaining damage. Thirty-nine school buildings have also been damaged. Due to the growing risk of looting, authorities have imposed a curfew in Cali.
According to the latest data from the crisis headquarters, at least 95 people have died in Cali, and 949 have been injured. Authorities have received reports of 239 people trapped after building collapses, of whom 86 have been rescued so far. Forty-five buildings have completely or partially collapsed, and an additional 93 have been preliminarily assessed as damaged. A particularly dramatic situation unfolded at one hospital where several upper floors collapsed, including areas housing pediatric patients. Some patients remained trapped, while around 600 people had to be cared for on the street in front of the damaged building.
The earthquake was felt across the country, and numerous aftershocks are complicating rescue efforts. The military has been deployed to the most affected areas to assist in the search and maintain order. Nearly 200 people are still unaccounted for, and among those trapped are children, whose images are circulating around the world.
The city of Pereira has also been severely hit, with 72 reported deaths. Entire residential blocks have been turned into piles of concrete and twisted metal. Rescue teams, aided by police, soldiers, and numerous citizens, spent the night clearing debris with excavators and bare hands. José Fernando Usma, a representative of the Colombian Red Cross, stated: "Rescuers have registered sounds and other signs at some locations that could indicate there are still living people under the rubble." He emphasized that the coming hours are crucial for finding survivors. Due to reports of looting, a curfew has also been imposed in Pereira, and President Abelardo de la Espriella has announced the deployment of an additional 1,000 security forces to Cali.
The disaster has severely disrupted critical infrastructure. Numerous areas are facing power, water, and telecommunications outages. Air traffic has been suspended at six airports, further complicating the delivery of aid. The European Union has already allocated an initial 100,000 euros in emergency assistance, and support has also been announced by the United Nations and other countries and international organizations.
Significant damage has also occurred in Manizales, where one of the towers of the city's neo-Gothic cathedral collapsed. The extent of the damage and the number of casualties are still being determined, especially in the hard-to-reach Chocó, a poor, forested area with limited transportation and communication links.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia and the competent Croatian Embassy in Brasília are in constant contact with the Croatian community in Colombia. According to the latest information, around two thousand members of the Croatian diaspora and their descendants live in this South American country, while the number of Croatian citizens is estimated at around 500. So far, there is no information about casualties among them, and the institutions continue to monitor the situation as it develops.
