COLOMBIA ROCKED BY 7.4 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE 160 KILLED 600 WOUNDED

Written by Michael Thervil

COLOMBIA ROCKED BY 7.4 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE: 160 KILLED 600 WOUNDED | EARTHQUAKE IN CHOCÓ | COURTESY OF EL TIEMPO NEWS AGENCY

[COLOMBIA 7.4 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE] Yesterday morning the cities of Cali, Manizales, Pereira for a total of 15 municipalities which are all located in the western region of Colombia was struck by a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that left and estimated 164 people dead, and more than 600 people wounded. Emergency service personnel and rescuers are currently conducting search and rescue operations to locate and free those trapped under the rubble of buildings. Reports indicated that a myriad of residential homes and business buildings have collapsed, and it has also been predicted that the death toll will most likely rise as the day continues.

While this earthquake was the biggest one to strike Colombia in years, Police and military units were deployed to assist in locating victims and maintaining public order. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency for the country. Pereira was the hardest hit city with nearly 60 buildings destroyed, 67 people killed and another 100 people currently missing. In Chocó, there were 13 deaths, 119 people injured and roughly 100 homes destroyed. Taking a heavy toll on the religious community of Nóvita, it was reported that two domes of the historical Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of Rosary located in Manizales collapsed and were destroyed.

Multiple airports and communication centers have also suffered major damage, with several of them being rendered either restricted or inoperable for the foreseeable future. Local and transnational businesses such as Coca-Cola and McDonald’s have also partnered with the government of Colombia in a combined effort to provide humanitarian aid and associated social services. With several hospitals being adversely affected by the earthquake, makeshift mobile clinics have been created to handle the influx of patients. The Colombian Red Cross has also been activated in response to recent events.