Colombia quake: Over 2k missing; flights disrupted, 21 aftershocks - top developments
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia, resulting in at least 132 deaths and over 2,000 people reported missing. Infrastructure damage is widespread, affecting schools, health centers, and regional airports, which are currently restricted to emergency flights.
Why it matters
The disaster highlights significant humanitarian and infrastructure challenges in the region, complicating rescue efforts in remote areas like Chocó.
At least 132 people were killed and 570 others injured after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, according to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities.By Monday afternoon, people had begun reporting loved ones missing on digital databases, as they had after previous earthquakes in Venezuela. One database listed more than 2,000 missing people, most of them from Cali and Pereira, with the number continuing to rise.Pereira was the worst-hit city, reporting 60 deaths, the association said after a disaster response meeting with President Gustavo Petro.Pereira, a city of around 500,000 people, lies less than 64 km from the earthquake’s epicentre. Tremors were felt across several parts of Colombia, including the capital Bogota, where alarms sounded and people evacuated buildings and gathered on the streets as a precaution.President Abelardo de la Espriella said 1,577 residential buildings had been damaged, while 37 others were completely destroyed.
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