A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 164 people and collapsing buildings across several cities, while rescue crews worked into Tuesday to reach people still trapped beneath the wreckage.
The earthquake hit hardest in western Colombia, including Cali, Pereira and Manizales. Colombia’s Geological Service said it was the strongest earthquake recorded in the country this century.
President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national emergency and sent soldiers, police and specialized rescue teams into the affected areas. The response is the first major crisis for de la Espriella, who took office only days before the earthquake.
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Crews search for survivors
Rescue teams worked through the night, sometimes using their hands to move concrete and debris from collapsed buildings.
In Cali, one of Colombia’s largest cities, at least 85 people were killed. Parts of a hospital collapsed, trapping some patients and forcing hundreds of others to be treated outside.
Crews also pulled survivors from collapsed buildings elsewhere in the region. In Manizales, rescuers carried an injured woman from the rubble near the Catholic University and took her by ambulance for treatment.
The earthquake also damaged the city’s neo-Gothic cathedral, where part of a tower collapsed. At least 21 aftershocks had been recorded by Monday night, and officials warned that more were possible.
Some communities remain hard to reach
The picture was less clear in Chocó, the rural province closest to the epicenter, where phone service was disrupted in some areas and many communities have few ways in or out.
The epicenter was near San José del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people. Much of Chocó can be reached only by boat, through the jungle or by plane, complicating efforts to reach damaged communities and account for residents.
Police and military teams were deployed with engineers, rescue workers, equipment and search dogs. Airports across the region were also temporarily closed while inspectors checked for structural damage.
In Cali and Pereira, officials imposed overnight curfews after reports of looting. De la Espriella also ordered additional security forces into Cali.
Search continues into Tuesday
Monday’s earthquake struck about 66 miles below the surface, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Despite that depth, the magnitude 7.4 quake caused extensive damage across western Colombia.
Rescue teams remained at collapsed buildings Tuesday, with authorities warning that the number of dead could continue to rise as crews reach areas hit hardest by the earthquake.
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