Colombia Faces 7.4‑Magnitude Quake
On Monday, a powerful 7.4‑magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, becoming the strongest seismic event in the country’s 21st‑century history. The tremor shuddered homes, schools and businesses, causing widespread damage and claiming at least 132 lives nationwide.
A Family Makes a Timely Escape
In the midst of the chaos, mother Liliana Pérez Ocampo filmed her family's hurried departure from their kitchen. The video shows her husband and two children darting toward an outside safe zone while the house begins to shake uncontrollably.
“At first, we thought it was just a mild tremor like the ones that usually happen in Colombia,” Ocampo told the BBC World Service. “But when more than 30 seconds passed and everything was shaking harder, we realized it was an earthquake.”
Lives Over Loss
All four family members are safe, the mother said, adding that while material possessions can be rebuilt, life cannot. The footage has circulated online, illustrating the critical importance of swift action during seismic events.
Colombia’s Geological Service confirmed that the quake’s magnitude and force made it the most destructive in the country's recent history, prompting authorities to review earth‑quake preparedness protocols.
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