Pereira, Cali, Quibdó, Manizales and Armenia are the main cities that remain on red alert due to the magnitude of the damage
SANTO DOMINGO – Colombia, the South American country that was struck by a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake on Monday, continues to report deaths and injuries. As of Tuesday morning, August 11, the official death toll stood at 132, with more than 500 injured. Thousands of buildings were also damaged by the earthquake's powerful tremors. A similar earthquake struck Venezuela on July 24, a country with which Colombia shares a border, and where more than 6,000 deaths have been reported to date.
According to a provisional tally by the Colombian Association of Capital Cities (Asocapitales), Pereira, the capital of the Risaralda department, which borders San José del Palmar (Chocó), the epicenter of the earthquake, has the highest number of fatalities, with 60 deaths, as reported this Tuesday by the media outlet Vanguardia Internacional.
The incident occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time. The agency clarified that the figures released so far do not include deaths and injuries in surrounding towns and villages, which also suffered building collapses and damage to their hospital infrastructure, airports, public services, and transportation systems, according to the aforementioned media outlet.
Pereira, Cali, Quibdó, Manizales and Armenia are the main cities that remain on red alert due to the magnitude of the damage, and in total they add up to at least 86 collapsed buildings and six airports with suspended operations.
In Pereira, in addition to the 60 deaths, there are 16 people trapped in the Megacable (public cable car), two collapsed buildings and 15 critical points where rescue efforts continue, while the Matecaña remains closed due to damage to its structure.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.4 according to the Colombian Geological Service (SGC), was felt at 07:34 local time and had its epicenter in the municipality of San José del Palmar, in Chocó, at a depth of 103 kilometers, and caused damage in much of the central and western parts of the country.
Hospitals are beginning to fill to full capacity
Vanguardia Internacional maintains that, due to the large number of injured, which already exceeds five hundred people, hospitals are beginning to reach their capacity limits, so evacuations are taking place in the most strained areas, such as Cali, in addition to collateral damage such as looting.
“We are facing threats of looting, which is why I have ordered a curfew and the militarization of Cali,” stated Cali Mayor Alejandro Eder, who asked citizens to report any attempted looting or security incidents. He explained that the presence of the police and army will be reinforced in various parts of the city, especially in the areas that suffered the most damage. “These first 48 hours are critical so that we can rescue alive all the people who may be trapped in the collapsed buildings,” he added.
Pereira, where the epicenter of the earthquake occurred. (External source).
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