Earthquake in western Colombia kills at least 47
A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 47 people.
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 47 people and leaving many more trapped under collapsed buildings. The 7.4 magnitude quake hit at around 7:30 local time, with its epicentre near the small community of San Jose del Palmar in the Choco region, between the cities of Cali and Medellin. The tremor was felt across the country and in neighbouring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama, and lasted for several minutes, according to witnesses.
Rescue teams and volunteers worked through the night and into the next day, digging through rubble in cities such as Cali, Pereira and Manizales. At least 20 buildings collapsed in Cali alone, including a hospital facade, and there were reports of damage to airports and schools. The death toll rose steadily as more bodies were recovered, with local officials reporting more than 250 dead by Tuesday evening. Hundreds more were injured, and thousands were reported missing.
Colombia'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 visited affected areas and promised government support, while security forces were deployed to prevent looting. International aid was offered by the United States, Mexico, Ecuador and France, among others.
The earthquake was the strongest to hit Colombia in a decade, and it came less than two months after twin earthquakes in neighbouring Venezuela killed more than 6,000 people. Aftershocks continued to shake the region, and many families spent a second night sleeping outdoors, afraid to return to damaged homes. The full scale of the destruction was still emerging, with rescue efforts hampered by damaged roads and communication outages.
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. | · | · | |||||
| A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the Choco region. | · | · | · | ||||
| The earthquake's death toll was reported with figures ranging from at least 47 to over 160. | · | · | · | ||||
| 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 7.7 earthquake struck off the north coast of Flores. | · | · | · | · | |||
| At least 20 buildings collapsed in Cali. | · | · | · | · | |||
| Broadcasters reported different numbers of missing people, ranging from nearly 200 to more than 3,000. | · | · | · | · | |||
| The death toll was reported at over 160, with one report citing 220. | · | · | · | · |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
BBC News provided continuous live updates, focusing on the rising death toll, the new president's response, and the context of recent earthquakes in Venezuela. It included correspondent reports from Cali and interviews with aid workers, emphasising the scale of the disaster and the challenges of reaching remote areas.
- “The 7.4 magnitude quake struck the Choco region between Medellin and Cali.”
- “More than 100 people have been killed, according to the country's president.”
5 News focused on the human impact of the earthquake, with updates on the death toll and rescue efforts. It highlighted the president's declaration of a state of emergency and the deployment of security forces, while also noting the scale of missing people.
- “Colombia has been hit with a huge 7.4-magnitude earthquake. Details are still emerging. The worst affected area is the San Jose del Palma region, where at least 47 people are confirmed to have died.”
- “More than 160 people have been killed in a 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia.”
BBC One West provided detailed reports from correspondents on the ground, focusing on the destruction of buildings, the rescue operations, and the president's response. It also included eyewitness accounts and updates on the death toll as it climbed.
- “At least 69 people have been killed after a powerful earthquake in Colombia this afternoon.”
- “More than a hundred people have been killed after a powerful earthquake in Colombia.”
ITV News emphasised the scale of the disaster, describing it as the country's most powerful earthquake in a decade. It included dramatic footage of buildings collapsing and focused on the rescue efforts and the president's pledge to lead the response.
- “In South America her powerful earthquake struck Colombia today flattening buildings and killing at least 69 people.”
- “More than 100 people are dead in Western Colombia after the country's most powerful earthquake in a decade.”
Channel 4 provided in-depth coverage with a focus on the human stories of survivors and the challenges of rescue. It included a report from its Latin America correspondent, highlighting the lack of equipment and the desperate search for missing relatives.
- “A powerful earthquake hit several Colombian cities including the capital in the morning rush hour. The number of dead is climbing rapidly as rescue workers dig through the rubble.”
- “In Colombia, emergency teams are continuing to search for survivors of Monday's 7.4 magnitude earthquake.”
Sky News focused on the rising death toll and the fear that it would increase further, with many people still trapped. It also reported on the president's response and the international offers of aid, while noting the context of the recent Venezuela earthquakes.
- “More than 160 people have died and it's feared that that number is only going to rise with many more trapped in and under the rubble.”
- “More than 220 people are confirmed to have died after a 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia yesterday.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.