The Turkish Foreign Ministry has issued a formal statement of condolence following a devastating 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday. The ministry expressed deep sadness over the loss of life and the significant material damage caused by the tremor. In its statement, the ministry extended its sympathies to the families of the victims and the people of Colombia, while offering wishes for a speedy recovery to those injured. Turkish officials also confirmed that the Turkish Embassy in Bogota is actively monitoring the situation and remains in contact with Turkish citizens currently in the country.
The earthquake, which occurred at 7:34 am local time (12:34 GMT), resulted in at least 111 fatalities. According to data from the US Geological Survey, the epicentre was located approximately 5 kilometres east of the town of San Jose del Palmar, with the quake originating at a depth of 107 kilometres. A magnitude 5.0 aftershock was later recorded at 13:18 GMT, centered about 16 kilometres west of San Jose del Palmar, a municipality in the Choco Department with a population of roughly 4,800 people.
President Abelardo De La Espriella reported that at least 87 people were injured in the disaster. The scale of the destruction is extensive, with 1,575 homes reported damaged, including 37 that were completely destroyed. Additionally, the quake caused 61 buildings to collapse and inflicted damage on 18 health centres, 52 educational centres, 17 community centres, and 18 roads. In response to the widespread destruction, the Colombian government has declared a national disaster to improve the coordination and mobilisation of institutional capacities for the emergency response.
Despite the intensity of the earthquake, the US Tsunami Warning Centre confirmed that no tsunami is expected for the US states of California, Oregon, Washington, or Alaska, and ruled out any threat to the Canadian province of British Columbia. Colombian authorities have similarly confirmed that there is no tsunami threat to the country's Pacific coast.
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