The 7.4 magnitude earthquake that shook Colombia this Monday at 07:34 local time has left hundreds of images that reflect the magnitude of one of the greatest tragedies experienced in the country in recent years. Security cameras, mobile phones and citizen recordings captured in real time the moment when the ground began to shake, causing scenes of panic, mass evacuations and the collapse of numerous buildings.
The images spread on social networks show how the earthquake was strongly felt in cities such as Bogotá, Cali, Pereira, Manizales or Medellín. In some videos you can see the swaying of skyscrapers and buildings under construction, while in others you can see dozens of people leaving offices, shopping centers and homes in search of safe places.
Workers working on top of a building and collapses in the middle of the street
One of the most shocking videos was recorded in Bogotá, specifically in a building under construction in which several construction workers appear clinging to metal beams. You can see how the structure swings violently due to the earthquake while the workers can feel the panic.
Other recordings show the collapse of buildings in several locations in the west and center of the country. In the images you can see collapsed facades, clouds of dust covering the streets and emergency teams working through the rubble in search of survivors.
According to the official balance sheet, the earthquake had its epicenter in San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó, and has left, so far, 164 dead, in addition to thousands of people affected and numerous infrastructures damaged. Authorities continue to assess the scope of the tragedy as rescue efforts continue.
Authorities warn about fake videos
Along with the real images of the disaster, numerous contents manipulated with artificial intelligence or even taken out of context have also begun to circulate. Organizations specialized in verification have warned of the dissemination of videos of earthquakes that occurred in other countries and images generated with AI that are presented as if they correspond to the emergency in Colombia.
Even so, the authentic recordings of the earthquake allow us to get an idea of the enormous force of the earthquake and the moments of terror that millions of Colombians experienced during the seconds that the tremor lasted.
