Air travel across western Colombia has been significantly disrupted following a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake Monday morning, with flights suspended at multiple airports as authorities inspect terminals, runways, control towers and other critical infrastructure.
For travelers headed to the region, cancellations and delays are expected to continue as safety assessments are completed.
Colombia’s civil aviation authority, Aerocivil, said operations were suspended at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Quibdo, Cartago and Buenaventura while inspectors assess structural damage. Cali’s Alfonso Bonilla Aragon International Airport has also been affected. The closures are particularly significant for travelers headed to Colombia’s Coffee Axis, where Pereira and Armenia are important gateways.
Pereira’s Matecana International Airport appears to have experienced particularly visible damage. Posted by The Guardian, images from inside the terminal show sections of ceiling falling, debris scattered through passenger areas and travelers evacuating as the earthquake struck. Airports in Manizales and other affected cities are also undergoing inspections before authorities determine whether operations can safely resume.
The earthquake struck at approximately 7:34 a.m., with its epicenter near San Jose del Palmar in the Choco region and a depth of roughly 60 miles. It was felt across much of Colombia, including Bogota, Medellin and Cali, as well as in neighboring countries. At least 77 people were reported dead at press time, with widespread structural damage in several cities. Authorities are also warning residents about possible aftershocks.
The Colombia disaster comes just weeks after twin earthquakes, measuring 7.2 and 7.5, struck in neighboring Venezuela on June 24. As of Aug. 3, Venezuela’s reported death toll had risen to 6,125, with nearly 61,000 people treated in hospitals and roughly 1,400 people still missing. The World Bank has estimated direct physical damage from the quakes at $19.6 billion, according to Reuters.
