The European Union has activated its crisis consular assistance mechanism and deployed the Copernicus satellite service alongside critical funding following a major earthquake in Colombia, according to statements from top bloc officials. The 7.4-magnitude seismic event struck the region on Monday, leaving widespread infrastructure damage and casualties across the South American country.
“The EU has mobilized Copernicus, our service of satellites, to support the operations of rescue and relief. We are providing funding to support the response, also through the Red Cross,” High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas stated in a social media announcement on Tuesday. Kallas also confirmed the activation of the EU crisis consular assistance mechanism to aid European citizens affected by the disaster, noting that she had formally extended the bloc’s condolences to her Colombian counterpart.
The latest European mobilization builds upon initial commitments made by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who announced the deployment of the satellite network on Monday. “This night, the heart of Europe is with the people of Colombia after the terrible earthquake in the Chocó region,” von der Leyen stated, emphasizing that the community executive stands ready to deliver additional assistance as needs dictate.
Complementing the executive branch response, European Parliament President Roberta Metsola voiced the assembly’s solidarity with those impacted by the tremor. “Europe stands in solidarity with Colombia in these difficult moments,” Metsola affirmed, expressing condolences to the families of the victims.
Seismic Data and Regional Impact
The earthquake struck on Monday at 07:34 local time, carrying a preliminary magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale, according to data from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The epicenter was located five kilometers east of San José del Palmar within the department of Chocó, at a measured depth of 107 kilometers.
Rescue teams and volunteers have continued intensive searches for survivors across the western sector of the country. Urban centers including Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdó display heavy structural damage more than 24 hours after the initial tremor. In Pereira, residents described the sudden devastation, with local accounts highlighting widespread building collapses in heavily populated neighborhoods.
Casualties and National Response
Reporting on the human toll varies across initial updates from international outlets covering the event. Outlets including El Informador and El Nacional cite preliminary figures indicating at least 132 fatalities, while other dispatches note higher estimates reaching up to 240 deaths and over 1,300 injuries alongside extensive infrastructural destruction. In response to the escalating crisis, Colombian authorities have formally decreed a state of national disaster.
Next Steps and Official Updates
Relief operations remain ongoing as national emergency committees coordinate logistics with international humanitarian partners, including the International Red Cross.
Keep reading