哥伦比亚强震：最贫困省份和咖啡产区受灾Colombia earthquake: poorest provinces and coffee producing areas affected

地震发生于当地时间7时34分。在乔科省首府基布多，法律系学生威尔莫·库埃斯塔告诉法新社记者：“有人光着身子跑出来，有人从家中二楼跳下。”

8月10日，在哥伦比亚城市马尼萨莱斯，救援人员在遭受地震破坏的建筑物废墟上开展救援。新华社发（哥伦比亚新闻社供图）

“咖啡三角区”位于哥伦比亚中西部安第斯山脉区域，绿色山谷陡峭，咖啡种植园点缀其中，作为咖啡文化景观入列世界文化遗产，每年吸引数以十万计游客。

8月10日，在哥伦比亚城市马尼萨莱斯，建筑物在地震中遭受严重破坏。新华社发（哥伦比亚新闻社供图）

Beijing, August 11 (Xinhua) -- A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on the 10th, with the epicenter located in the province of Choco, which is usually considered the poorest region in this South American country. One of the main coffee producing areas, Risaralda Province, also suffered extensive damage. According to official sources, as of that evening, the strong earthquake has caused at least 132 deaths.

The strongest earthquake of this century in Colombia

The earthquake occurred at 7:34 local time. In the capital of Choco Province, Quibdo, law student Wilmo Cuesta told Agence France Presse reporters, "Someone ran out naked, and someone jumped from the second floor of their home

On August 10th, in the Colombian city of Manizales, rescue workers carried out rescue operations on the ruins of buildings damaged by the earthquake. Xinhua News Agency (photo provided by Columbia News Agency)

The Colombian Geological Survey said that this is the strongest earthquake of its magnitude in the country since the beginning of this century. The updated information from the United States Geological Survey's earthquake information website shows that the epicenter was located 5 kilometers south of San Jose del Palma in the province of Choco, with a depth of 110.3 kilometers.

Joko Province is located near the Pacific Ocean and is a remote area with extensive tropical rainforests. According to government statistics, over two-thirds of the population in the province lives in poverty. San Jose del Palma is located about 400 kilometers west of the capital Bogot á, with approximately 4800 permanent residents.

Except for the province of Choco, a significant portion of the damage caused by the earthquake is concentrated in the province of Risaralda, one of Colombia's "coffee triangle" areas. According to the National Capital Association of Colombia, at least 60 people have died in the provincial capital Pereira alone.

Photos and videos released by local media show fragments of the Pereira airport ceiling falling on passengers searching for cover and screaming, people running in rubble and dust, and numerous shops, apartment buildings, and homes collapsing in the city. Pereira Mayor Mauricio Salazar told a local radio station that at least 15 collapsed buildings have trapped people.

In Manizales, the capital of the province of Caldas, located in the same "coffee triangle" area, a side tower of the iconic Neo Gothic cathedral collapsed, with fragments scattered on nearby streets. Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas has asked residents to stay outside to prevent aftershocks.

The "Coffee Triangle" is located in the Andes mountain range of central western Colombia, with steep green valleys dotted with coffee plantations. As a coffee cultural landscape, it has been listed as a World Heritage Site and attracts hundreds of thousands of tourists every year.

On August 10th, in the Colombian city of Manizales, buildings suffered severe damage in the earthquake. Xinhua News Agency (photo provided by Columbia News Agency)

Save everyone alive

In Cali, the capital of the Cauca Valley Province, the local government stated that some people are still trapped in 380 damaged buildings in the city. Volunteers use simple tools such as pickaxes and even their hands to search for survivors.

Andres Felipe Mexia, who joined the rescue team temporarily, told Agence France Presse reporters, "We are trying to rescue everyone alive... A rescue worker asked if the trapped person could whistle, and someone whistled in response

Rescue personnel form a human chain to remove building debris such as bricks, and stop every few minutes to listen for any signs of life from the trapped individuals. Felipe Garcia said, "Many people came with supplies and food to help firefighters and disaster victims

According to the Associated Press, on the afternoon of the 10th, people began reporting missing relatives on some online databases. One database shows that over 2000 people have gone missing, mostly in Cali and Pereira, and the number is still increasing. CNN quoted Cali Mayor Alejandro Elder as saying that at least 188 people are missing in the area.

The capitals of Cali, Manizales, and Jindo provinces, Armenia City, have announced a curfew. Ed said that the threat of robbery forced him to deploy military police on the streets.

Colombia is located in the Pacific Ring of Fire and Seismic Belt, with active plate movement and typically recording thousands of small earthquakes per month. Seismologist Susan van der Lee from Northwestern University in the United States stated that although the 7.4 magnitude earthquake had a deep epicenter, its magnitude, location inland, and fault slip movement may have amplified the damage to densely populated valley areas. (Hu Ruoyu)