The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, expressed on Monday the support and solidarity of the European Union with Colombia after the earthquake of magnitude 7.4 that shook the northwest of the country, causing more than a hundred fatalities. At the same time, she announced the activation of the European satellite service Copernicus to assist in search and rescue efforts.
"Tonight, the heart of Europe is with the people of Colombia after the terrible earthquake in the Chocó region. We have already mobilized Copernicus, our satellite service, to help in the rescue operations," stated the head of the community executive in a message posted on social media, where she added that the community bloc is ready to offer more help to the South American country.
The earthquake, with a magnitude of 7.4 on the Richter scale, occurred around 7:34 a.m. (local time), with the epicenter located five kilometers east of San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, and at a depth of 107 kilometers, according to a preliminary report from the United States Geological Survey (USGS).
The Colombian president, Abelardo de la Espriella, has confirmed so far the death of 111 people and 87 injured due to the earthquake, which has impacted around nine departments of the country, including Risaralda and Valle del Cauca, considered among the most affected.
Authorities have also detailed damage to at least 1,575 homes, 18 health centers, and 52 schools, as well as the collapse of 61 buildings, damage to 18 roads, and impact on seven airports, six of which have suspended commercial flight operations.
After a meeting of the National Committee for Disaster Management, De la Espriella declared the situation a "national disaster" and announced that he will travel to Quibdó, the capital of the department of Chocó, to assess the consequences of the earthquake on the ground.