LEHIGH VALLEY, Pa. – At least 111 people are dead, after a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake in western Colombia. Officials say the quake was followed by 21 aftershocks.
It’s the country’s strongest earthquake in the 21st century.
Hundreds of buildings are damaged and Colombia’s President Abelardo de la Espriella, has declared a national disaster emergency.
While search efforts continue in the hardest-hit regions, families here in the Lehigh Valley are leaning on each other.
“I heard about it this morning, and it was like my heart sank,” Carol Obando-Derstine says. “We were just frantic trying to connect with different family members, because I still have a lot of family there in Colombia.”
Carol Obando-Derstine is from Pereira, one of the major cities hit by the earthquake.
“The airport in Pereira, where I’m from, had a partial collapse. I saw footage of the hospitals collapsed,” Obando-Derstine says. “We were able to connect with everyone, I thought, but there seems to be one aunt that I thought that was accounted for and that we haven’t been able to reach. So that’s really scary.”
One of her cousins had to flee a high rise as it shook.
“She said the force was so strong, she had to run out the way barefoot and 15 flights of stairs, holding the railing because the force was so strong,” Obando-Derstine says.
That same anxiety rippled through the Lehigh Valley including at Colombian-owned spots like Mis Raices.
“I feel, like, very anxious when I wake up,” Daniel Ortiz says. “My family is okay. My friends are okay, so that’s good. There’s many people in Cali or Pereira who are affected by this.”
“Colombians were trying to help us each other. We are strong. We’ll be back, stronger as we can,” Ortiz says.
Anyone who is looking to help can donate to the Colombian Red Cross as search efforts continue.
“Right now, the communication towers are also impacted. So, folks are not able to connect with loved ones. So, they’re also helping with that,” Obando-Derstine explains.