Powerful earthquake in western Colombia kills at least 160
A powerful earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 160 people. Search and rescue operations are ongoing for survivors.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
A powerful earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday morning, killing at least 265 people and leaving hundreds more missing. The 7.4 magnitude quake hit at around 7.30am local time, with its epicentre near the village of San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, between the cities of Cali and Medellín. The tremor was felt across the country, including the capital Bogotá, and in neighbouring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.
The earthquake lasted for several minutes, causing buildings to collapse in several cities, including Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Bogotá. At least 20 buildings collapsed in Cali alone, and two hospitals were damaged. In Pereira, the city's university library and airport terminal were badly hit. The country's new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, who had been sworn in only on Friday, declared a state of emergency and suspended his schedule to focus on the disaster. He later announced three days of national mourning.
Rescue teams, including soldiers, firefighters and volunteers, worked around the clock to search for survivors trapped under the rubble. In some areas, they formed human chains to remove debris by hand, while excavators and cranes were also used. There were moments of hope, such as the rescue of a 32-year-old woman in Pereira who was pulled alive after being buried for nearly two days. A man was also pulled out alive after 20 hours. But the death toll continued to rise, reaching 265 according to the president, with nearly 500 people still missing. More than 5,000 homes were damaged or destroyed.
The earthquake came less than two months after twin earthquakes in neighbouring Venezuela killed more than 6,000 people. International aid was offered by the US, Mexico, Ecuador, France and others. The UN said it stood ready to support the country. King Charles sent a message of condolence. The full scale of the disaster was still emerging, with communications down in some areas, and many people were spending nights in shelters or outdoors, fearing aftershocks.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | Channel 5 | BBC News | BBC NEWS Signed | BBC One | Channel 4 | ITV | Sky News |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A 6.7 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia, with its epicenter on the Pacific coast. | |||||||
| The death toll was reported as at least 47, with some reports exceeding 100. | · | ||||||
| The president declared a national emergency. | · | ||||||
| Reported death tolls from the earthquake varied, with figures ranging from at least 47 to at least 240. | · | · | |||||
| The government declared a national emergency or disaster and the president suspended his schedule to focus on the disaster. | · | · | · | ||||
| The president suspended his schedule to focus on the disaster. | · | · | · | ||||
| A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Choco region. | · | · | · | · | |||
| At least 20 buildings collapsed in Cali. | · | · | · | · | |||
| Broadcasters reported different numbers of missing people, ranging from nearly 200 to more than 3,000. | · | · | · | · | |||
| The earthquake struck western Colombia, including the Choco region. | · | · | · | · | |||
| The earthquake was reported as the most powerful in a decade. | · | · | · | · | |||
| The president was inaugurated on Friday. | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News provided comprehensive breaking coverage, with live updates from correspondents on the ground and interviews with local journalists and aid workers. It focused on the official death toll, the president's response, and the international reaction, while also highlighting dramatic rescue stories.
- “The 7.4 magnitude quake struck the Choco region between Medellin and Cali.”
- “At least 240 people are now reported to have been killed by this earthquake according to tallies of figures from local officials.”
- “I have ordered the suspension of my entire schedule in the nation's capital so that I can focus on the natural disaster that is currently ravaging our long-suffering Colombian people.”
Channel 5 focused on the rising death toll and the desperate search for survivors, with reports emphasising the scale of destruction and the personal stories of those affected. It updated figures throughout the day, from 47 to 224 deaths, and highlighted the lack of specialist equipment in some areas.
- “Colombia has been hit with a huge 7.4-magnitude earthquake. Details are still emerging.”
- “We now know that at least 224 people have died, another 3,000 are missing, with rescuers searching for people trapped beneath the rubble.”
- “This man says he came across someone calling for help when the rescue operation took too long.”
BBC One West provided regular updates with reports from correspondents in Colombia, focusing on the human impact, the president's emergency response, and the ongoing rescue operations. It also highlighted the contrast with the recent Venezuela earthquakes.
- “At least 69 people have been killed after a powerful earthquake in Colombia this afternoon.”
- “Emergency crews in Colombia are continuing to search for survivors of an earthquake that's killed at least 240 people.”
- “Colombia's new president, who has only been in the job since Friday, has declared a state of emergency.”
ITV News focused on the emotional and human stories of the earthquake, with vivid descriptions of the terror and the struggles of survivors. It highlighted the lack of specialist equipment and the heroic efforts of volunteers, while also reporting on the government's response and the rising death toll.
- “On the streets of Pereira, the sound of terror drowns out the tremor but only for so long.”
- “In parts of western Colombia, there is no specialist equipment, no expert teams clearing what were once homes now mountains of concrete.”
- “The true scale of the damage caused by this earthquake is still unknown tonight.”
Channel 4 News provided in-depth reporting from Colombia, with a strong focus on the personal tragedies and the gruelling rescue efforts. It showed the desperation of families searching for loved ones and the resourcefulness of volunteers using basic tools. It also highlighted the new president's challenge and the scale of the disaster.
- “A desperate search for survivors were long into the night and then at 3 57 a.m rescue workers find life under the debris.”
- “After 10 hours of digging, navigating a labyrinth of concrete slabs, they finally find the sign of life.”
- “The neighbors here, they are not digging for other humans. They're digging to pick up the pieces of their lives.”
Sky News focused on the mounting death toll and the international response, with interviews with aid workers and updates from correspondents. It also reported on the king's message of support and the challenges facing the new president. It highlighted the ongoing search for survivors and the fear of aftershocks.
- “More than 220 people are confirmed to have died after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia yesterday.”
- “Emergency rescue teams in Colombia are still trying to find survivors of a powerful earthquake. More than 250 people are known to have died according to local reports with thousands still missing.”
- “The 7.4 magnitude quake struck the Choco region in the west of the country but it was felt hundreds of miles away in the capital of Bogota and neighbouring Ecuador.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.