BREAKING | Earthquake in Colombia leaves 216 dead and more than 600 injured: De la Espriella declares national disaster

Colombian rescue workers and volunteers pulled a 32-year-old woman alive from the rubble of a collapsed building on Tuesday night, amid cheers and applause as exhausted crews continued searching for more survivors of the strongest earthquake to hit the country this century.

Daniela Largo spent more than 35 hours trapped beneath the ruins of a hotel before being carried out on a stretcher wrapped in a blue blanket, as rescue teams and relatives shouted with joy.

Authorities revised the death toll downward to 216 after the government of Valle del Cauca and the mayor’s office in Cali corrected earlier figures.

“Just as we were beginning to lose hope, we received a call,” her mother, Sandra Milena Pérez, told AFP in Pereira.

Pérez said a neighbor heard cries for help beneath the rubble and contacted volunteers and professional rescuers in an effort to save her.

In Pereira and Cali, the hardest-hit cities, families are sleeping in parks out of fear of aftershocks. Entire city blocks have been reduced to rubble.

“We are working with our hands, with gloves (...) It is heartbreaking to see time slipping away” in the search for people still alive, said Pablo César Ruiz, a volunteer in Cali.
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The EU activates €2 million in emergency aid for Colombia

Diane Hernández

The death toll from the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday has risen to 216, according to the latest figures from local authorities.

The earthquake also left 668 people injured and caused severe property damage, particularly in Cali and Pereira, the hardest-hit cities.

The figures remain provisional, as emergency teams continue search and rescue operations, as well as damage assessments in urban and rural areas of the departments of Valle del Cauca, Risaralda, and Chocó.

Colombian volunteers cleared debris by hand throughout the night in the search for survivors of the earthquake that has claimed the lives of at least 181 people and destroyed more than 100 homes and office buildings.

Pereira, a city of half a million people, was the hardest hit.
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​Throughout the night, residents roamed the dark streets with flashlights.

Volunteers searched the ruins of a six-story building housing stores and offices, where two girls were believed to be trapped.

"It's very sad to see the whole city like this, knowing that there may still be people alive down there," Juana Marín, 25, told AFP. She joined dozens of volunteers to clear the rubble by hand.

Pope Leo XIV said Tuesday that he is "deeply saddened" by the earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday and left at least 169 dead and more than 600 injured, according to the Vatican.

"The Holy Father, deeply saddened to learn the painful news of the earthquake that has seriously affected several areas of Colombia... offers prayers for the eternal rest of the deceased and raises his prayers to the Lord for the prompt recovery of those affected by this tragedy," the Vatican's secretary of state, Pietro Parolin, wrote in a note to the archbishop of Cartagena, Francisco Javier Munera Correa.

Colombian mayors reported 165 collapsed buildings due to the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck on Monday.

Emergency crews continued to assess the damage and conduct search-and-rescue operations amid the rubble, particularly in Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó, the hardest-hit cities.

At least 169 people died and more than 600 were injured in the magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday, according to a new report from the Association of Mayors released on Tuesday.

The victims are concentrated in Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó.

Colombian authorities warned the casualty count could rise further as search efforts continue, particularly in areas with damaged access routes and communications. In Quibdó, firefighters reported people trapped in collapsed structures and severe damage to hospitals and public buildings.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) issued an orange alert and estimated economic losses near $649 million. According to its PAGER system, 1.6 million people felt very strong shaking, and up to 8.9 million were exposed to severe seismic movement across Colombia, Ecuador and Panama.

Cali's airport joined the list of suspended terminals, bringing the total to seven affected airports. At Pereira's Matecaña International Airport, a partial infrastructure collapse caused fatalities. Authorities also reported damage to at least 18 major roads and the temporary closure of the Sumapaz tunnel and the Mariano Ospina bridge for technical inspection.

The Colombian government reported damage to 1,575 homes, with 37 completely destroyed and 61 residential and commercial buildings collapsed. In Manizales, one of the cathedral's towers collapsed, while in Cali the Hospital Universitario del Valle suffered a partial collapse and seven other health institutions were evacuated due to structural failures.

Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán said the capital suffered no serious structural damage, though alarms were triggered and buildings were evacuated as a precaution. He announced the deployment of 100 rescue workers to support the hardest-hit departments.

Cali Mayor Alejandro Éder declared a curfew from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. following reports of looting threats in several parts of the city. He also ordered the militarization of the Comuna 17 and 19 districts, with joint police and military patrols.

The U.S. Department of State announced $15.5 million in funding to address the emergency in Colombia following the magnitude 7.4 earthquake. The agency said on X that the funds will go toward emergency shelter, food, protection, and earthquake assessments.

"We are united in prayer with the Colombian people and stand ready to support President @ABDELAESPRIELLA and his government as they assess the needs on the ground," the Trump Administration said via the official @StateDept account.

President Abelardo de la Espriella announced he will travel to Pereira, one of the areas hit hardest by the earthquake, and that a Unified Command Post will be set up in Chocó. He added that he has asked Ungrd for a detailed report on the situation and the most urgent needs of the affected communities.

Colombia's National Disaster Risk Management Unit (Ungrd) ruled out a tsunami threat along the country's Pacific coast following the earthquake. Citing information from the Maritime Directorate (Dimar), the agency said there is no threat to the coastline despite the epicenter's proximity to it.

Medellín's Metro system temporarily suspended service on its lines and cable cars while technical teams assess the state of its infrastructure following the earthquake. The company said Lines A and B, along with cable car routes H, J, K, L, M and P, remain out of service until further notice.

Chocó Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba confirmed injuries and the collapse of several buildings in Quibdó, the departmental capital near the earthquake's epicenter. She said regional authorities are working on a damage assessment to issue an official report. "We're concerned about the aftershocks," Córdoba said, in translated remarks.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado expressed her solidarity with the Colombian people following the powerful earthquake with its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó, which affected several areas of the neighboring country.

In a message on X, she noted that Venezuelans, who have "suffered the devastating impact of earthquakes," stand in solidarity with the affected families.

"To President @abdelaespriella and his government team, we send you much strength during these difficult times; we trust in your responsibility and diligence in addressing this emergency," added the Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

She affirmed that Venezuela, which has received Colombia's support in its darkest hours, "is today more united than ever with the Colombian people."

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said on Monday the European Union was "ready to provide more support" after a powerful earthquake struck Colombia.

"Tonight, Europe's heart is with the people of Colombia after the terrible earthquake in the Choco region. We have already mobilised Copernicus, our satellite service, to help with rescue operations," von der Leyen said on social media.

Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency on Monday following the powerful earthquake that struck the western part of the country.

The 7.4-magnitude earthquake left at least 111 dead and 87 injured, according to a statement from the president in Bogotá. De la Espriella took charge of coordinating the emergency response and pledged to prioritize assistance for the affected communities in the hardest-hit areas.

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele expressed his solidarity with Colombia following the strong earthquake that struck this morning.

In a message on X, he stated that he is closely monitoring the aftermath of the earthquake and that his prayers are with the families of those who lost their lives, the injured and all Colombians who are going through difficult times.

Bukele noted that Colombia has emergency and rescue teams in the affected areas, and expressed confidence in their response capabilities.

However, he assured that El Salvador is in communication and ready to provide immediate support with rescue teams, doctors, paramedics, supplies or any other assistance deemed necessary.

At least 69 people died in various parts of western Colombia as a result of the strong earthquake that struck the country on Monday, local authorities reported.

According to reports from governors and mayors compiled by AFP in the coffee-growing region of Risaralda, whose capital is Pereira, 40 deaths have been recorded, making it the hardest-hit area so far. In Valle del Cauca, whose capital is Cali, there are 27 fatalities. In Manizales, two deaths have been reported.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated on X that the Trump administration is closely monitoring the strong earthquake that struck Colombia and declared itself ready to support the Colombian people and the government of President Abelardo de la Espriella.

Rubio recommended that U.S. citizens in Colombia register with the State Department's STEP system and follow the U.S. embassy in Bogotá's social media accounts to receive the latest information.

Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella announced on X that he is heading to Bogotá to focus on the emergency response efforts the country is facing. He reported that he has convened a Unified Command Post at the UNGRD, from where he will personally lead efforts to assist communities in Chocó, the Coffee Region, and all affected areas.

In his message, the president assured Colombians going through difficult times that they "are not alone." 
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​"You have a president who cares deeply about his people and who will do whatever it takes to protect you, stand by you, and help the affected regions move forward, together," said De La Espriella.

According to AFP, at least 18 people died in the Colombian city of Pereira as a result of the strong earthquake, Mayor Mauricio Salazar reported.

"The situation is critical," said the mayor of Pereira in an interview with Caracol Radio, after confirming this initial death toll from the magnitude 7.4 earthquake, which had its epicenter in the neighboring department of Chocó.

At least 20 structures collapsed in the Colombian city of Cali, and people are trapped under the rubble due to the strong earthquake that shook the western part of the country, the local mayor reported.

"At the moment, we have at least 20 collapsed structures in Cali with people trapped. I have requested assistance from the mayor of Bogotá and the mayor of Medellín in the form of rescue teams," said Alejandro Eder, mayor of Colombia's third-largest city, on X.

According to AFP, six airports in western Colombia suspended operations due to damage caused by Monday's strong earthquake, the Civil Aviation Authority reported.

"Damage has been reported at the airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura. For safety reasons, flight operations at these airports remain suspended until structural damage to the infrastructure can be assessed," the agency stated on X, following the magnitude 7.4 quake.