Colombia Earthquake: President Visits Devastated Choco Region

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people and leaving thousands missing. The quake rattled cities including Cali, Quibdo, and Pereira, damaging or collapsing around 1,600 buildings.

Rescue teams, soldiers, and volunteers worked through the rubble by hand, passing concrete pieces down lines to reach those trapped. By Monday night, citizen-run websites listed more than 2,700 people as missing.

The hardest-hit area is Choco, a poor and often neglected region near the epicenter. Much of it is only reachable by boat, jungle paths, or small planes, making damage assessment difficult.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, sworn in just days ago, traveled to Quibdo, the regional capital, on Monday night. He announced the mobilization of the full military and police, including engineers, rescue workers, and search dogs. He also promised rental subsidies for those whose homes were damaged.

"Choco will never again be the 'land of the forgotten,'" he said, meeting with Governor Nubia Carolina Córdoba Curi.

The quake comes as a major test for the new president, who has pledged a tough stance against criminal groups. The U.S. State Department has pledged $15.5 million in emergency aid, and other Latin American nations have offered support.

The disaster has also stirred anxiety across the Andes, following two devastating quakes in neighboring Venezuela in late June that killed over 6,300 people.