This Monday at 7:34, a prolonged earthquake of magnitude 7.4 shook Colombia. With an epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó, and an initially recorded depth of 107 kilometers (recalculated by the Colombian Geological Service [SGC] to 96 kilometers), the event awakened the ghost of the historic earthquake of November 23, 1979 with a magnitude of 7.2.
In the face of the catastrophe, the brotherhood of the regional right was activated immediately. The libertarian government of President Javier Milei contacted the administration of Abelardo de la Espriella.
The Argentine chancellor Pablo Quirno expressed on X: “We express our solidarity with the people and government of Colombia in light of the earthquake that occurred today, and we extend our condolences to the families of the victims and our solidarity to all those affected. We are in contact with Colombian authorities, to whom we have conveyed Argentina's willingness to provide any necessary assistance.”
Furthermore, Quirno added that “so far, no Argentine citizens have been reported among the victims.”
“We are in contact with Colombian authorities to offer our support and assess sending assistance based on their needs”. This support materializes the alliance sealed days earlier in Cali, where Javier Milei made a quick visit to channel the diplomatic relationship after years of tension under the socialist Gustavo Petro.
President Milei himself defended the synergy, stating: “We have an excellent relationship and have managed to demonstrate that those leaders, when they are in very good sync, can deeply advance in making reforms that benefit both countries, and that is what we are working hard on”.
Senator Patricia Bullrich sent a strong message of support: “Mr. President, we stand with you and the people of Colombia in this difficult moment. My solidarity with those who suffered losses due to the strong earthquake that hit the country. With your new government, we will continue to strengthen the ties and assistance between our countries”.
It is being evaluated that Argentina replicate the assistance scheme from June 2026 applied in Venezuela, where it sent military aircraft and personnel, doctors, tents, mattresses, and cooking kits.
For its part, the United States showed total alignment. Secretary of State Marco Rubio communicated that the Donald Trump Administration is “closely monitoring the strong earthquake that shook Colombia and is ready to support the Colombian people and the administration of President Abelardo De la Espriella”.
