Overview
- A magnitude 7.4 quake with an epicentre near San José del Palmar struck early Monday at roughly 100 kilometres depth and was felt across Colombia and into neighbouring countries.
- Major damage and building collapses were reported in Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó, with dozens of multi‑storey structures destroyed and key local hospitals and schools damaged.
- Provisional casualty counts have been repeatedly revised and remain in the low hundreds as official and municipal tallies are reconciled while searches for survivors continue.
- The national government declared a state of emergency and deployed military, professional rescuers and thousands of volunteers while six western airports suspended flights for structural inspections and communications remain disrupted.
- International support is arriving, including a US $15.5 million package and EU Copernicus satellite imagery, as authorities warn that dozens of aftershocks recorded so far complicate rescue and shelter needs.