The Colombian president, Abelardo de la Espriella, convened an emergency committee this Monday to address the damage caused by the 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook much of the country and announced that he will travel to Pereira, one of the most affected cities, to accompany those affected.

"I have ordered the installation of a Unified Command Post to coordinate care for the damage and the victims," ​​said the president in

The earthquake, which occurred at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT), had as its epicenter the town of San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, at a depth of 82 kilometers, indicated the Colombian Geological Service (SGC).

In Quibdó, capital of Chocó and closest town to the epicenter, authorities reported injured people and serious damage to buildings, but the earthquake was also felt strongly in several cities in the west and center of the country with structural damage in Pereira, Manizales and Cali.

The vice president of the Colombian Government, José Manuel Restrepo, also spoke out about the emergency and offered his solidarity for the affected families.

“At this moment, the most important thing is to protect life, rescue those who remain trapped, care for the injured and bring help to the hardest-hit communities,” Restrepo said in X, adding that “united we will overcome this emergency.”

The authorities continue the work of assessing damage and caring for those affected while the assessment of the emergency continues. EFE

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