Colombia was struck on Monday by a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake, which left dozens dead or injured.
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Pereira Mayor Mauricio Salazar said people remain trapped in several collapsed buildings. Meanwhile, in Quibdó, four people are reportedly trapped beneath the rubble of a four-story building.
The tremors caused significant damage in several Colombian cities and were also felt in neighboring Venezuela. Footage recorded in Cali, about 200 kilometers southwest of Manizales, shows the scale of the destruction.
One video shows the facade of an EPS Sanitas center, a healthcare provider in Colombia, collapsing onto ambulances parked on a busy street. Other footage shows that five of the six floors in one wing of Valle Evaristo García University Hospital have collapsed.
Emergency teams and authorities have begun inspecting damaged buildings, while searches continue for people who may be trapped under the rubble.
In Manizales, the capital of the Caldas region, schools and universities have suspended all classes. The city is located less than 100 kilometers from the earthquake’s epicenter. The mayor’s office has asked educational institutions and students to follow official channels for further updates.
The United States said it was “closely monitoring” the situation and was ready to assist Colombia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged American citizens in Colombia to register their presence online with the State Department and follow official sources for the latest information.
Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella has personally taken charge of coordinating the government’s response to the disaster. He announced the establishment of a Unified Command Post, which will coordinate rescue operations and assistance for those affected. The president also said he would travel to Pereira to closely monitor the situation and the measures taken by the authorities.
