Now Reading: 7.4 magnitude Colombia quake kills 111, state of emergency
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7.4 magnitude Colombia quake kills 111, state of emergency
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia near San Jose del Palmar on Monday, killing at least 111 people and injuring 87, officials said. President Abelardo de la Espriella, sworn in just…
The Story in Brief
A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia near San Jose del Palmar on Monday, killing at least 111 people and injuring 87, officials said. President Abelardo de la Espriella, sworn in just three days ago, declared a state of emergency, reporting over 1,600 damaged buildings, including 61 that collapsed entirely. The worst-hit areas include Pereira, where at least 40 died, and Cali, with 19 collapsed buildings trapping survivors. Colombia's geological service said it was the strongest quake this century. Flights were suspended at six airports. The tremor was felt in Ecuador and Panama but caused limited damage there.
The Indian Opinion
The constant comparisons to Venezuela's deadly quakes risk stirring unnecessary panic, but Colombia's building codes and the new president's rapid response merit recognition. The real test is whether aid reaches remote Choco, accessible only by boat or plane, before aftershocks worsen the damage. The number of missing people in Quibdo will reveal the true scale.
Sources (6): timesnownews.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com, rediff.com, hindustantimes.com, hindustantimes.com (2), hindustantimes.com (3)
This story was synthesised by AI from the 6 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 6 sources.
