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47 killed as 7.4-magnitude earthquake hits western Colombia
At least 47 people have died after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday. The epicentre was in San José del Palmar, a town in the Chocó region about 400…
The Story in Brief
At least 47 people have died after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday. The epicentre was in San José del Palmar, a town in the Chocó region about 400 km west of Bogotá, at a depth of 107 km, the US Geological Survey said.
Deaths were reported across several cities: 18 in Pereira, two in Manizales and 27 in Valle del Cauca department, including Cali. Buildings collapsed, trapping residents, and ceilings fell at Pereira airport. Aftershocks of 2.8 and 4.8 followed. President Abelardo de la Espriella said he had taken charge of the emergency response. Tremors were felt in Ecuador and Panama with minimal damage.
The Indian Opinion
Indian readers will note the familiar narratives of panic and chaos in a developing nation, but the real lesson is infrastructure resilience. Colombia’s buildings collapsed, killing dozens, while neighbouring countries with stricter codes escaped lightly. The new president’s immediate response is a test of preparedness. How many more bodies will be pulled from the rubble as search efforts continue?
Source: english.mathrubhumi.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
