Colombia earthquake kills 132, injures 570; hospital patients trapped under rubble

At least 132 people were killed and 570 injured after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, with the worst-hit areas facing widespread damage, disrupted air travel and difficult rescue operations.

Pereira reported 60 deaths and emerged as the worst-hit city, according to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities, following a disaster response meeting with President Gustavo Petro.

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The city of around 500,000 people lies less than 64 km from the earthquake's epicentre. Tremors were felt across large parts of Colombia, including the capital Bogota, where alarms sounded as people evacuated buildings and gathered on the streets as a precaution.

By Monday afternoon, people had begun reporting missing relatives on digital databases, as they had after previous earthquakes in Venezuela. One database listed more than 2,000 missing people, most of them from Cali and Pereira, with the number continuing to rise.

President Abelardo de la Espriella said 1,577 residential buildings had been damaged, while 37 others were completely destroyed. More than 60 buildings had collapsed, while 18 health centres and 52 schools were also damaged, The New York Times reported.

The US Geological Survey recorded the earthquake at around 7.34 am local time. Its epicentre was near San Jose del Palmar in Colombia's Choco area, about 280 kilometres west of Bogota, at a depth of 107 kilometres, CNN reported.

Patients trapped as hospital collapses in Cali

Rescue teams were searching for patients trapped under rubble after parts of a hospital in Cali, western Colombia, collapsed in the earthquake.

Sections of Cali's University Hospital, including its pediatrics department, “have collapsed,” Valle del Cauca Governor Dilian Francisca Toro told local media. “Consequently, there are people trapped,” she said in a video posted on X, adding that firefighters and the army were “working to get them”.

About 30% of the hospital's infrastructure collapsed, including three floors housing pediatrics, internal medicine and part of the neonatal unit, hospital manager Irne Torres Castro told reporters.

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At least four people were rescued from the rubble, according to the Cali government. Several patients were evacuated and treated in the hospital gardens, while others were transferred to nearby health facilities.

The University Hospital was among several healthcare institutions in Cali that were closed and evacuated after sustaining structural damage, the local government said.

Earthquake disrupts flights across western Colombia

The quake also disrupted air travel across western Colombia, with several airports closed or operating under restrictions as authorities assessed damage to infrastructure.

The civil aviation authority said airports serving Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura were being used only for medical and government flights while inspections were under way. Operations at Quibdo were also affected by the earthquake.

The restrictions added to the challenges facing emergency responders, particularly in remote parts of Choco, where damaged infrastructure and difficult terrain could hamper rescue teams trying to reach affected communities.

Aviation authorities said their teams were supporting local officials, including by providing firefighting and search-and-rescue capabilities, while engineers inspected airport facilities.

Passengers affected by cancellations or disruptions were advised to contact their airlines. Authorities said normal operations would resume once airport infrastructure was deemed safe.

US announces $15.5 million in aid

The United States will provide $15.5 million in aid to Colombia for shelter, food, protection and earthquake assessments following the magnitude 7.4 quake, the State Department announced on X.

“We are united in prayer with the Colombian people and stand ready to support President (Abelardo de la Espriella) and his government as they assess the needs on the ground,” the State Department said.

Colombia braces for aftershocks

Colombia lies along the seismically active Pacific Ring of Fire and experiences thousands of earthquakes each month, most of them minor.

The Colombian Geological Service said 21 aftershocks had been recorded by late Monday and warned that more tremors were possible.

The country's coffee-growing region was devastated by a magnitude 6.2 earthquake in 1999 that killed more than 1,000 people, with Armenia and Pereira among the worst-hit areas. (With inputs from Times of India)