A strong earthquake measuring about 7.4 shakes western Colombia and causes widespread building damage. Authorities report at least 20 deaths, with multiple people trapped in collapsed structures and rescue efforts underway. Local officials describe significant disruption across towns in the affected region.
Several outlets cite the hardest-hit city as Pereira, where Mayor Mauricio Salazar says 18 people die and others are trapped after buildings collapse. The South China Morning Post and other reports place the quake’s impact in the Pacific region and central Andes. Additional fatalities are reported in nearby cities, including Manizales, where Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas is cited as reporting two deaths. Some coverage also notes broader infrastructure effects, including evacuations.
While outlet figures vary slightly as new information comes in, they align on the quake’s magnitude, its western Colombia impact, building collapses, and a death toll in the low twenties concentrated in Pereira, with additional deaths reported in Manizales and other nearby localities.
