The devastation of Monday’s 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia was felt thousands of miles away in the Bay Area.
Many Colombians living in San Jose spent the day anxiously checking phones, trying to reach loved ones and watching videos of the destruction back home.
The powerful earthquake struck in western Colombia, killing at least 111 people and damaging hundreds of buildings.
For John Betancur, owner of El Cafetal in San Jose, the earthquake immediately became personal.
“In one moment, everything is down,” he said. “In three seconds, your life, the people, family, babies.”
He called his family in Manizales, the city where he’s from, wanting to make sure the people he loves were OK. He was relieved to learn they’re safe. But inside his restaurant, customers were still waiting for answers.
“A lot of people came in in the morning, ‘Hey, you know this?’ People looking at videos on their phones saying, ‘Look at the video, look at my friend, look at the building, look at downtown, the city,” Betancur said.
Similar worries were shared at Fonda Colombiana restaurant across town. Server Carlos Flores said he woke up to the news and immediately thought about his family back home.
“It’s very difficult for me, for us, for the people to see the destruction of the buildings,” he said. “It’s terrible.”
He said some people have been able to reach their families while others struggle to get through.
“They are saying we are safe, but in many cities, the people don’t have signal,” he said.
The Colombian Consulate said it is standing in solidarity with families impacted by the earthquake and is urging people who are trying to reach loved ones to rely on official information, including the Red Cross.