Strong earthquake causes significant damage and injuries in Colombia
26 minutes ago
EPA
A powerful earthquake has caused significant damage in Colombia, officials say, causing buildings to collapse in several cities
The magnitude 7.4 quake struck at 07:34 (12:34 GMT) at a depth of 103km (64 miles) in Chocó province, the country’s geological service said
Chocó’s Governor, Nubia Carolina Córdoba, said people had been injured but did not specify how many. She also said she was concerned about possible aftershocks
The quake comes less than two months after twin quakes devastated the north of neighbouring Venezuela, killing more than 6,100 people
Powerful earthquake hits Colombia – follow updates
Buildings collapse after magnitude-7.4 earthquake in Colombia
The epicentre of Monday’s quake was 5km east of the village of San José del Palmar
It could be felt hundreds of kilometres to the east in the capital, Bogotá, where several buildings were evacuated
The mayor of Cali said at least 20 buildings had collapsed in Colombia’s third most populous city
The country’s arts, including those in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura
In the capital, Bogotá, trees and traffic lights shook violently
People streamed out of their homes and offices. They reported feeling the ground move beneath them for almost two minutes
The capital’s Mayor, Carlos Fernando Galán, said that he had received reports of cracks in buildings but so far none of any serious damage to the city’s infrastructure
Journalists broadcasting live on news channel Caracol Radio also described the furniture shaking in their studio in Bogotá
Colombian newspaper El Tiempo shared footage it said was taken in the city of Manizales, in the country’s coffee region, showing a collapsed building and people shouting to those they fear could be trapped underneath
Video posted on social media showed the collapsed spire of a church in Manizales
A nearby building had deep fissures in its façade
REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez
Colombia
Earthquakes
