Now Reading: 7.4-magnitude Colombia quake kills 69, dozens trapped
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7.4-magnitude Colombia quake kills 69, dozens trapped
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 69 people, authorities said. The epicentre was near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, about 400 km west…
The Story in Brief
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 69 people, authorities said. The epicentre was near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, about 400 km west of Bogotá, at a depth of 107 km. Tremors were felt as far as the capital and in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama, with minimal damage reported there.
At least 40 people died in the Risaralda department, including Pereira, and 27 in Valle del Cauca, where Cali is located. Two more died in Manizales. At least three children were among the dead in Valle del Cauca. Flights were suspended at six airports. Colombia’s Geological Service said it was the highest-magnitude quake in the country in a decade. The Hindu Business Line reports President Abelardo de la Espriella has taken charge of the emergency response.
The Indian Opinion
News outlets are headlining widely different death tolls, Mathrubhumi says 47, The Hindu Business Line says 69. The gap reflects the chaos of a disaster unfolding across remote towns, not a conspiracy. Instead of chasing numbers, watch whether Colombia's newly inaugurated president, a Trump ally, quickly secures international aid. The real test: how many survivors are pulled from rubble in the next 48 hours, not the body count on day one.
Sources (2): english.mathrubhumi.com, thehindubusinessline.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
