Earthquake in Colombia

The Colombian government has declared a national emergency following a powerful earthquake that has caused widespread damage and claimed dozens of lives.

The 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT) on Monday, August 10th. Its epicentre was in the Chocó region, near San José del Palmar. According to initial reports, the earthquake originated at an intermediate depth of more than 100km below the surface.

As of August 20th, there were over 280 reported deaths, more than 4,100 injuries and over 185,000 people impacted by the earthquake.

Communities face significant displacement and increased emergency shelter needs, with more than 31,400 homes destroyed. Around 69,000 people in Chocó have been affected or displaced, representing approximately 10% of the region’s population.

The US Geological Survey (USGS) estimates that around 1.5 million people experienced “very strong” shaking, intense enough to cause damage to unreinforced masonry buildings. The agency says the earthquake occurred within an area where an ancient section of seafloor is slowly sinking beneath the South American continent.

Damage to infrastructure is extensive, with nearly 2,500 educational facilities, over 230 health centres and more than 15 water systems affected.

Largely covered by mountains and rainforest, Chocó is difficult to access. Only two roads connect the region to the rest of Colombia, and many towns can only be reached by plane or boat.

The national government, local authorities and humanitarian partners continue to deliver a response that includes search and rescue operations, physical and mental health services, access to water, humanitarian assistance and the operation of temporary shelters.

As the response enters a new phase, rescue teams are winding down operations while humanitarian organizations focus on supporting people made homeless by the earthquake and providing essential aid.

International support has been offered by a range of countries and organizations, including France, Mexico, the United States and the European Union. It is not yet clear what international assistance the Colombian government will accept.