Powerful Earthquake Hits Colombia Leaving at Least 111 Dead

A powerful earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, resulting in at least 111 deaths and hundreds of injuries. The tremor, which had a magnitude of 7.4, was the strongest recorded in the country in the last decade. The epicenter was located in San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó, approximately 280 kilometers west of Bogotá. The earthquake caused widespread destruction across central and western Colombia, with significant damage reported in the departments of Risaralda and Valle del Cauca. In Cali, a portion of the University Hospital collapsed, leaving at least five intensive care patients trapped under rubble. The Colombian government declared a national state of disaster, and the army mobilized five rescue platoons to assist affected areas.

Various viral videos captured the panic during the event. One recording showed an influencer taking shelter under a table at the Matecaña International Airport in Pereira, where operations were suspended after ceiling panels and debris fell. Another video showed the mayor of Cali, Alejandro Éder, fleeing a radio studio during a live interview as equipment began to fall. A third video from Blu Radio in Bogotá showed presenters urging listeners to remain calm while the studio foundations shook.

While both reports focus on the disaster, they emphasize different aspects of the chaos. The center leaning coverage focuses on the national scale of the tragedy, the official government response, and the impact on infrastructure like the airport. In contrast, the center right leaning coverage provides more granular detail on the immediate human reactions, specifically highlighting the experiences of local officials and media personalities during the shaking.