Earthquake Now: Live Updates as 7.4-Magnitude Quake Devastates Colombia’s Chocó, Death Toll Climbs

Rescue crews are racing the clock after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia late Monday night, flattening buildings across Chocó and Valle del Cauca departments and shaking the capital, Bogotá. Officials said early Wednesday that at least 132 people are confirmed dead, hundreds are injured and more than 40 remain missing as search dogs, cranes and volunteers dig through pancaked apartment blocks in Cali and San José del Palmar. Strong aftershocks continue to rattle the region, keeping frightened residents outside in makeshift camps while emergency shelters struggle to provide food, water and medical care. The National Unit for Disaster Risk Management warns that landslides remain likely along the rugged Andean foothills, urging anyone living near steep slopes to move to safer ground immediately. USGS data show at least 28 aftershocks above magnitude 4.5 since the main shock, including a 5.8 tremor at 03:17 a.m. local time that was felt as far away as Quito, Ecuador. Engineers are inspecting bridges on the Pan-American Highway for hidden damage, and Colombia’s energy ministry reports that three hydroelectric dams automatically shut down but have since resumed limited operations. Compounding global anxiety around “earthquake now” searches, a separate magnitude 5.1 quake struck south of Hawai‘i Island early Wednesday; no tsunami threat was issued, but Hawai‘i County Civil Defense reminds residents to secure heavy furniture and keep emergency kits stocked. Seismologists emphasize that the events are unrelated, yet both underscore how suddenly major quakes can hit. What to do if you feel shaking now • Drop, Cover and Hold On: Get low, protect your head under a sturdy table or against an interior wall. • Stay indoors until the shaking stops; most injuries occur from running outside. • After the quake, expect aftershocks. Inspect gas lines; if you smell gas, open windows, shut off the main valve and leave the building. • Use text or social media to check on loved ones and keep phone lines free for emergencies. How to follow live earthquake updates Bookmark authoritative real-time feeds such as the USGS “Latest Earthquakes” map and Colombia’s Servicio Geológico Colombiano for regional alerts. Local radio stations in Cali (90.5 FM) and Quibdó (103.7 FM) are broadcasting continuous advisories. Human stories emerging from the rubble In Cali’s El Cedro neighborhood, firefighters pulled a two-year-old girl alive from a collapsed five-story complex 14 hours after the main shock, drawing cheers from exhausted rescuers. Her parents remain missing. In rural Sipí, villagers used wooden planks as makeshift stretchers to ferry the injured across a damaged suspension bridge to the nearest clinic. Authorities have declared three days of national mourning, and international aid convoys from México, Chile and Spain are landing at Alfonso Bonilla Aragón International Airport with portable field hospitals, water purification units and sniffer-dog teams. For the latest “earthquake now” alerts, refresh this page throughout the day and enable notifications—timely information can save lives.