Video: Earthquake in Colombia Damages the Country's Tallest Cathedral
In the Colombian city of Manizales, a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake damaged the cathedral, which is considered the tallest in the country. During the tremors, part of its spire collapsed, and eyewitnesses captured the moment of the collapse on video.
The cathedral was built between 1928 and 1939 and is one of Colombia’s most famous historical and architectural landmarks. The earthquake also caused widespread destruction in several cities across the country, and emergency services continue to deal with the aftermath of the disaster.
The footage shows the spire of the Cathedral Basilica of Our Lady of the Rosary falling to the ground and shattering into pieces. After the collapse, a cloud of dust covered the area around the cathedral, and police prevented people from approaching the damaged building.
Construction of the cathedral in Manizales began in the 1920s. It stands approximately 119 meters tall and is considered the tallest cathedral in Colombia.
Throughout its history, the building has already withstood several strong earthquakes. One of them occurred in 1938, while the cathedral was still under construction. During the 1962 earthquake, one of its side towers collapsed.
According to the Colombian Geological Survey, the epicenter of the latest earthquake was located near the municipality of San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó in the western part of the country. The epicenter was at a depth of about 97 kilometers. The earthquake was the strongest recorded in Colombia in the last decade.
Damage and building collapses also occurred in other cities across the country, including Cali, Pereira, and Quibdó. In Cali, dozens of destroyed buildings were reported. Local residents, together with rescue workers, cleared the rubble and searched for people.
The earthquake was felt not only in Colombia but also in neighboring Venezuela.
Source: NYP.
In Colombia, 132 people have died as a result of the earthquake, and search and rescue operations are ongoing.
Earlier reports indicated that 111 people had died as a result of the powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday morning. Another 87 people were injured, according to the country’s president, Abelardo de la Esprieylla.
