The death toll from Monday's powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake in western Colombia has climbed to 132, with more than 570 people injured, according to the latest update from the Colombian Association of Capital Cities, which has been coordinating disaster response alongside the national government.
Widespread Destruction Across Multiple Regions
The city of Pereira has reported the heaviest losses, with 60 deaths recorded there alone. Nationwide, at least 86 buildings have collapsed, five capital cities remain under red alert, and seven airports have suspended operations in the aftermath of the quake. Among the structures destroyed were the pediatric and neonatal sections of a hospital in Cali, complicating emergency medical response in one of the country's hardest-hit cities.
Where and How It Happened
The earthquake's epicenter was located in San José del Palmar, a remote, mountainous municipality in the department of Chocó, roughly 150-250 miles west of the capital, Bogotá. The US Geological Survey recorded the quake at a depth of 107 kilometers, striking at 7:34 a.m. local time. Colombia's Geological Service described it as the highest-magnitude earthquake registered in the country in the last decade. More than 2 million people were exposed to very strong shaking, a level the USGS says can cause considerable damage to poorly built structures.
Casualties Across Multiple Regions
Deaths and injuries were reported across several regions, including Risaralda (where Pereira is located), Valle del Cauca (home to Cali), Caldas, Antioquia, and Chocó. In Valle del Cauca, Governor Dilian Francisca Toro reported 27 deaths, including three children, calling the situation serious. In Cali, the country's third-largest city, Mayor Alejandro Eder said at least 20 buildings had collapsed, with people trapped inside as emergency teams set up tents to coordinate rescue efforts. In Chocó, near the epicenter, communications were severely disrupted, with phone signals down across much of the regional capital, Quibdo, leaving officials with limited details on the extent of damage in that remote area.
National Emergency Response
Colombia's newly inaugurated President Abelardo De La Espriella, who took office just days earlier, declared a state of national disaster to mobilize emergency resources and coordinate the response across affected regions. The government has deployed soldiers to assist rescue operations as teams continue digging through rubble in search of survivors. Even in Bogotá, far from the epicenter, the tremor was strong enough to trigger building and car alarms, sending residents into the streets as a precaution, though the city's mayor, Carlos Fernando Galán, reported no injuries and only minor structural cracks.
International and Public Response
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington is closely monitoring the earthquake and stands ready to support the Colombian people. European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen also offered condolences and support. Colombian singer Karol G said her foundation, Con Cora, is working to address the emergency and support affected families.
Concerns the Toll Will Keep Rising
Authorities and analysts have cautioned that the death toll is likely to continue climbing as search-and-rescue operations proceed, particularly in the three main urban areas hit hardest by the quake. The USGS had earlier estimated a roughly one-in-three chance that fatalities could ultimately surpass 1,000, underscoring the scale of destruction still being assessed across the affected region. For live updates on the disaster response, see CNN's live coverage.
With communications still down in some of the hardest-hit areas and rescue operations ongoing, officials say it will likely be days before the full extent of the damage and casualties across western Colombia becomes clear.