MAGNITUDE 7.4 EARTHQUAKE STRIKES WESTERN COLOMBIA

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, causing significant damage across the Pacific coast province of Chocó and the neighbouring region of Risaralda, according to regional officials. The tremor occurred at 07:34 local time at a depth of 96 kilometres, with its epicentre located 5 kilometres east of the village of San José del Palmar. Tremors were felt hundreds of kilometres away in the capital, Bogotá, and across the border in Venezuela. Nubia Carolina Córdoba, governor of Chocó province, reported injuries and substantial damage to buildings in the provincial capital, Quibdo, though she did not specify casualty numbers.

Juan Diego Patiño, governor of Risaralda province, told local media that Pereira, the regional capital, suffered serious structural damage to buildings. Colombian newspaper El Tiempo reported footage from the city of Manizales showing a collapsed building with people calling out to those feared trapped underneath. Bogotá's mayor, Carlos Galán, stated that no major destruction occurred in the capital, where several buildings were evacuated as a precaution. The US tsunami warning system confirmed that no tsunami warning was issued following the earthquake.

Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management said it was in communication with local officials to evaluate the extent of damage. Earthquakes occur regularly in Colombia due to its location on the Pacific Ring of Fire, a major tectonic belt where approximately 90 per cent of the world's largest earthquakes take place. The earthquake occurred less than two months after twin quakes in neighbouring Venezuela killed more than 6,000 people in June.