Colombia Earthquake: Flights Cancelled, Hundreds Stranded at Bogota Airport

A powerful earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday has forced the temporary suspension of operations at several airports across the country, causing massive flight cancellations and delays. At Bogota's El Dorado International Airport, the busiest hub in the nation, hundreds of passengers have been left stranded as travel plans unravelled.

Long queues formed at check-in and rebooking counters, with anxious travellers scanning flight information screens for updates. Departure boards showed multiple flights to western cities such as Pereira and Cali — closer to the epicentre — either cancelled or indefinitely delayed.

One traveller waiting for an alternative said: "We are waiting for them to get us another flight to Medellin instead of Pereira. Our booked flight was supposed to leave at 11:50, but it's cancelled. We have another one for Wednesday, but we can't take it because we don't know what the situation is like in Armenia or Pereira."

Another passenger, who had just arrived from Madrid, added: "We just got here and heard the news of the earthquake. We planned to travel tomorrow to Pereira and stay in Colombia for 15 days, but have to look for an alternative to our original route. The earthquake has disrupted our plan."

The death toll from the magnitude 7.5 earthquake has risen to 132, with more than 570 others injured, according to the latest government update. Preliminary reports indicate that 32 cities have been seriously affected, while five departmental capitals — Pereira, Cali, Quibdo, Manizales and Armenia — remain under red alert. Pereira reported 60 deaths, followed by Cali with 15, Quibdo with eight and Manizales with four.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella has declared a state of national disaster to coordinate the response to the earthquake's impact.