A magnitude-7.4 earthquake with its epicentre near Colombia's Pacific coast struck on Monday, causing serious injuries and significant damage. The tremor was felt as far away as the border with Venezuela.
Live updates
Loading updates…
Key facts
- A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck Colombia's Pacific coast on Monday morning.
- The epicentre was near the Pacific coast, according to the BBC.
- The tremor caused serious injuries and significant damage.
- Shaking was felt in the capital Bogota and as far away as the border with Venezuela.
A powerful earthquake struck Colombia’s Pacific coast on Monday morning, causing injuries and damage across the region, according to reports from CNBC and the BBC.
The quake measured magnitude 7.4, with its epicentre near the Pacific coast, the BBC reported. Despite the coastal location of the epicentre, the tremor was felt in cities hundreds of kilometres away.
The shaking reached the Colombian capital, Bogota, where witnesses described feeling the tremor, according to Reuters. The impact extended even further, with the quake felt as far away as the border with Venezuela.
CNBC reported that the earthquake caused serious injuries and damage. The tremor struck in the morning, according to witnesses who spoke to Reuters.
The wide geographic reach of the quake underscored its strength, with effects registered across a large swath of the country far from the coastal epicentre.
Why it matters
A magnitude-7.4 earthquake is a major seismic event capable of causing widespread destruction and casualties. The fact that shaking was felt hundreds of kilometres away, including in the capital and near the Venezuelan border, points to the scale of the disaster and the potential need for a broad emergency response.
Frequently asked questions
How strong was the Colombia earthquake?
The earthquake measured magnitude 7.4, according to the BBC, with its epicentre near Colombia's Pacific coast.
Where was the earthquake felt?
The tremor was felt in the Colombian capital, Bogota, and as far away as the border with Venezuela, according to witnesses who spoke to Reuters and reporting from CNBC and the BBC.
Did the earthquake cause casualties?
Yes. CNBC reported that the quake caused serious injuries and significant damage, though specific figures were not provided in the available reports.
Timeline
- Strong earthquake causes significant damage and injuries in Colombia
BBC World: The magnitude-7.4 quake had its epicentre near the Pacific Coast but could be felt in cities hundreds of kilometres away.
- Magnitude 7.4 quake on Colombia's Pacific coast causes serious injuries and damage
CNBC Top News: The tremor was felt in Colombia's capital, Bogota, and as far away as Venezuela.
- Earthquake on Colombia's Pacific coast causes injuries and damage
CNBC Top News: A morning earthquake shook Colombian capital Bogota on Monday, with the tremor being felt as far away as the border with Venezuela, witnesses told Reuters.