Magnitude 7.4 Earthquake Strikes Colombia
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia's western coast today, causing widespread panic. The epicenter was located near the town of San José del Palmar in Chocó department, at a moderate depth of about 82 kilometers. Residents in the capital Bogotá and other regions reported strong tremors. Authorities activated emergency procedures and began searches for casualties and damage.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia's western coast today (Monday), causing widespread panic across the country. According to the Colombian Geological Service, the event occurred at 07:34 local time. The epicenter was located near the town of San José del Palmar in Chocó department, at a moderate depth of about 82 kilometers. This depth, according to reports, helps somewhat mitigate the intensity of surface destruction but extends the range of felt tremors. Many residents, including in the capital Bogotá, hundreds of kilometers from the epicenter, reported strong shaking. Reports of strong tremors also came from the departments of Antioquia, Cundinamarca, and Meta. Following the event, Colombian authorities activated national emergency procedures, and dedicated teams began extensive searches in areas near the epicenter to assess potential casualties and damage to infrastructure and buildings. According to a report in the Spanish newspaper El País, no official estimate of the extent of damage or casualties has been published yet.