A state of emergency has been declared in Colombia after one of the strongest earthquakes in recent years struck the country; at least 132 people have died and hundreds are missing, the BBC reports.
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck at around 7:34 a.m. (15:34 Latvian time) on the 10th of August at a depth of about 103 kilometers in the Choco province. The tremors were felt over a wide area for hundreds of kilometers in western Colombia. Most of the deaths were in Pereira, and other surrounding towns were also badly affected. The epicenter of the earthquake was located near the village of San José de Palmares, but there were no injuries or deaths there, despite the fact that the roads to and from the village were damaged.
The Association of Major Cities of Colombia reported on August 10 that more than 480 people were injured in the earthquake and aftershocks. The hardest hit was Pereira, about 55 kilometers from the epicenter. At least one building collapsed in the city’s central square. Local authorities reported that 65 buildings had collapsed in the city’s vicinity, and people were believed to be still trapped in several of the collapsed buildings.
In Cali, about 200 kilometers from the epicenter, 32 buildings collapsed. Colombia’s aviation authority reported damage to several regional airports. In the capital, Bogotá, traffic lights and trees swayed and some buildings cracked, but there were no reports of serious damage to infrastructure.
The tremors were also felt in Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama.
The Colombian earthquake came less than two months after two powerful earthquakes rocked northern Venezuela, killing more than 6,300 people.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency and is dealing with the situation just days after taking office. The president confirmed that about 1,500 homes have been destroyed or damaged.
World leaders have already expressed their readiness to provide assistance. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was closely monitoring the situation and was ready to provide support, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union’s Copernicus satellite was being used in rescue operations.
Read also: Migration Commissioner: EU cannot rely solely on neighbours to secure borders