Powerful 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake in Colombia Collapses Buildings, Leaving at Least 111 Dead

[Anchor]

A strong 7.4-magnitude earthquake has struck western Colombia. At least 111 people have been confirmed dead, with widespread damage reported, including collapsed buildings and suspended airport operations.

Reporter Ha Jeongyeon has the details.

[Reporter]

Buildings collapse amidst loud roars as people frantically evacuate through a storm of dust and debris.

At around 7:30 a.m. local time on the 10th, a 7.4-magnitude earthquake occurred in western Colombia.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella stated that at least 111 people were killed and 87 others injured, with 42 deaths reported in Risaralda Province alone, including its capital, Pereira.

[Abelardo de la Espriella / President of Colombia: We need the dedication of all government officials, the cooperation of society as a whole, and the support of friendly foreign governments and international organizations.]

The earthquake reportedly struck near San Jose del Palmar in Choco Province along the Pacific coast. Strong tremors were also felt in the capital, Bogota, as well as areas bordering Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama.

[Javier Tinoco / Resident of Bogota, Colombia: The earthquake felt really strong. It happened so suddenly that we were panicked and evacuated as quickly as possible.]

Colombia's aviation authorities announced that reports of earthquake damage were received from seven airports, including Pereira.

At least 61 buildings have been counted as collapsed due to the quake. Since many people are believed to be trapped under the rubble, the death toll is expected to rise significantly.

This earthquake comes a month and a half after a series of powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela last June, leaving over 6,000 dead.

[Video Editing: So Jihye]
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.