The Ardahan Newspaper | Since 1995 |
Western Colombia was struck by a powerful earthquake on Monday morning, causing significant casualties and widespread tremors across the region. Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella confirmed that the death toll from the 7.4 magnitude quake has risen to 111, with at least 87 people injured.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the earthquake occurred on Monday, August 10, at 07:34 local time at a depth of 107 kilometers. The epicenter was pinpointed near San José del Palmar in the western Chocó Department. Despite its intermediate depth, the shockwaves were felt extensively across Colombia as well as in neighboring countries including Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama.
President Espriella traveled to the capital, Bogotá, to directly lead and supervise the emergency response and disaster relief operations.
Additional Context & Geological Background: Colombia sits directly on the Pacific "Ring of Fire," a highly active tectonic zone where the Nazca Plate subducts beneath the South American Plate. The western Pacific coast, particularly the Chocó region, is prone to frequent seismic events. The depth of 107 kilometers helped mitigate potentially catastrophic surface destruction directly at the epicenter, though it allowed the seismic energy to radiate across a vast geographical area. Rescue teams remain on high alert for secondary landslides and potential aftershocks.