Cali under emergency: Colombia faces the aftermath of the most powerful earthquake of the 21st century
Western Colombia is going through moments of anguish following the impact of a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook the region last Monday, August 10. The seismic movement, with its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó, was recorded at 7:34 in the morning and is classified by the Colombian Geological Service as the seismic event of the greatest magnitude recorded in the country during the 21st century.
The city of Cali has been one of the most affected areas. Given the collapse of structures and the need to maintain public order, Mayor Alejandro Eder decreed a curfew that remained in effect throughout Monday night, allowing only the movement of emergency, health, and security personnel. This measure seeks to facilitate rescue efforts and ensure the free transit of heavy machinery and ambulances.
State response and military deployment
Given the gravity of the situation, President Abelardo de la Espriella traveled to the capital of Valle del Cauca to personally lead the relief operations. This disaster marks the first major national crisis of the current Government, which has declared a state of emergency to accelerate the mobilization of resources to the affected areas.
The absolute priority is the safeguarding of lives and immediate attention to those affected. We have ordered the deployment of more than 1,000 military personnel to ensure security at critical points and prevent any disruption of order in the most vulnerable sectors.
Government authoritiesA critical assessment and search efforts
The preliminary figures are discouraging. According to the most recent reports from Alofoke Deportes, at least 132 people are confirmed dead and 570 injured nationwide. However, these figures remain under constant update as rescue teams advance in debris removal tasks in cities such as Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, and Quibdó.
- Epicenter: San José del Palmar, Chocó.
- Depth: 103 kilometers.
- Aftershocks: More than 18 secondary movements have been recorded, with a warning of possible additional events.
- Measures: Militarization of affected areas and red hospital alert in Cali.
Experts explain that the earthquake was the result of the subduction process of the Nazca plate under the South American plate, a zone of high tectonic activity. While Colombia attempts to gauge the extent of this tragedy, rescue teams continue to work tirelessly in the search for survivors, keeping Cali under extraordinary security and surveillance measures.
