colombia earthquake kills
|

Colombia earthquake kills at least 22 as buildings collapse in several cities

ByJustpaste.in

BOGOTA, Colombia – At least 22 people were killed after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, August 10, bringing down buildings across several cities and leaving others trapped in the rubble, local authorities said.

The highest reported death toll was in Pereira, a city in Colombia’s coffee-growing region, where Mayor Mauricio Salazar said 18 people had died. In nearby Manizales, Mayor Jorge Eduardo Rojas said three people were killed.

One person died in Buenaventura, Colombia’s main Pacific port, when a building collapsed, trapping several people, Mayor Ligia del Carmen Cordoba said.

People remained trapped in Cali, one of Colombia’s largest cities, after more than two dozen structures collapsed, Mayor Alejandro Eder said. He added that the city had asked authorities in Bogota and Medellin to send disaster teams to support rescue efforts.

“At this point, two people have already been rescued alive, one elderly woman and one young girl. There are more people trapped,” Eder told Blu Radio. “We have at least 12 critical points and 25 collapsed structures that we are responding to.”

EVACUATION. A woman prays as people gather outside a building following an earthquake in Bogota, Colombia, on August 10, 2026. Photo by Luisa Gonzalez/Reuters

The earthquake’s epicenter was near San Jose del Palmar, in Choco, a sparsely populated province on Colombia’s Pacific Coast. Choco Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi said there were injuries and significant damage in Quibdo, the provincial capital, and warned residents about aftershocks.

Colombia’s civil aviation authority said flights were suspended at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura while inspectors checked for structural damage.

The country’s disaster agency said the earthquake, which occurred at 7:34 local time (1234 GMT), was felt in nine departments and all 32 departmental capitals, triggering evacuations and reports of damage. Colombia’s geological service pegged the magnitude at 7.4 and said the earthquake struck at a depth of 96 km (60 miles). The US tsunami warning system said there was no tsunami threat.

Reuters witnesses in the Venezuelan border state of Tachira and the central-western city of Barquisimeto reported the earthquake had been felt there. Venezuela was hit by devastating twin earthquakes in June, which killed more than 6,000 people, mostly on the coast near the capital, Caracas. – Rappler.com

Similar Posts

  • |

    Typhoon Dolphin hits Japan’s Okinawa as China prepares for landfall

    ByJustpaste.in

    Typhoon Dolphin has struck Japan’s southern Okinawa prefecture, injuring five people and causing power outages across approximately 14,000 properties. Major Japanese carriers ANA and Japan Airlines cancelled flights to the region as maximum sustained wind speeds reached 162 kph, with gusts hitting 216 kph. China has issued high-level alerts along its eastern coast, halting port operations and suspending 162 ferry routes in Zhejiang province ahead of expected landfall between Sunday and Monday. Airports and maritime hubs across eastern China, including Ningbo Lishe International Airport and Shanghai’s Yangshan port, have suspended operations or cleared vessels from harbors. In Taiwan, authorities reported the cancellation of 63 international flights, whilst Taipei rejected maritime traffic control directives issued by Beijing for the Taiwan Strait as baseless.

  • |

    US appeals court blocks Trump’s $400 million White House ballroom project

    ByJustpaste.in

    A US federal appeals court on Friday ordered President Donald Trump’s administration to halt construction of its $400 million ballroom at the White House, ruling that the executive branch lacks the authority to make such extensive alterations to the landmark without explicit approval from Congress. ​The 2–1 decision by a panel of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit upholds an injunction obtained by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The preservation group filed a lawsuit last year after the administration demolished the historic East Wing to build a 90,000-square-foot ballroom complex. ​Writing for the majority, Judges Patricia Millett and Bradley Garcia rejected the administration’s stance that executive authority permitted the unilateral overhaul. ​”Each President is a temporary tenant, not the owner, of the White House and its Executive Residence”, the judges wrote. “Whether or not a massive ballroom should be constructed is for Congress to decide and is not a matter for Executive self-help.” ​The court clarified that its ruling does not permanently block the project, but requires the administration to secure legislative authorization before proceeding with aboveground construction. The order maintains an earlier district court ruling by Judge Richard Leon, which blocked aboveground work on the ballroom while permitting underground construction to proceed for bunker and national security facilities. ​The panel granted a 14-day stay on its ruling, allowing the Justice Department time to file an emergency petition with the US Supreme Court. ​President Trump strongly criticized the decision on social media, describing it as “horrendous, politically motivated, and unlawful”. He argued that the project functions as a broader security complex incorporating bomb shelters, medical units, and drone shielding, warning that the halt poses a threat to national security. ​The National Trust praised the ruling, with CEO Brent Leggs stating that the decision affirms the principle that only Congress holds the authority to approve major structural additions to the White House. ​Judge Neomi Rao dissented, siding with the administration’s position that the executive branch retains sufficient discretion over the maintenance and security of the presidential residence.

  • | | |

    Iran defied plan to become ‘Venezuela’, says P…

    ByJustpaste.in

    TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said his country is facing a difficult economic and military situation but has remained resilient, arguing that national unity prevented what he described as an attempt by Iran’s enemies to push the country towards a Venezuela-like crisis. Speaking at a ceremony, Pezeshkian said Iran was operating under what he called illegal wartime conditions while continuing efforts to provide services and support to its people. The president portrayed the country as facing simultaneous economic and security challenges, but said the Iranian public had remained united despite the pressure. According to Pezeshkian, Iran’s opponents wanted to see the country weakened and destabilised. He argued that the unity of the Iranian people had instead helped Iran emerge as a stronger force. “Today, we are in a state of economic and military war,” Pezeshkian said, while stressing that the government was continuing to work for citizens despite the difficult circumstances. His comments came as Tehran has faced intense pressure over its economic situation and wider confrontation with the United States and its allies. Pezeshkian said Iran’s adversaries had intended to turn the country into “Venezuela”, apparently referring to the severe economic and political difficulties that have affected Venezuela over the past decade. He claimed that the plan had failed because Iranians had maintained a united position in the face of the challenges. The president also referred to a memorandum of understanding reached amid the difficult circumstances. He said the agreement had been shaped by the country’s determination to protect its interests while seeking a way forward through diplomacy. According to Pezeshkian, experts had described the memorandum as being based on “prudence, dignity and wisdom”. He argued that those criticising the agreement did not fully understand the circumstances surrounding it. The remarks suggest that Iran’s leadership is attempting to present the agreement as a strategic decision rather than a concession under pressure. Pezeshkian’s comments also come against the backdrop of signals that Tehran may be seeking a way to end its confrontation with Washington from a position it considers strong. Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that any diplomatic arrangement must protect the country’s national interests and sovereignty. For Pezeshkian, domestic unity remains central to navigating the crisis. He argued that despite economic hardship and military pressure, the country had avoided the collapse that its opponents allegedly expected. The president’s message was therefore aimed not only at Iran’s external rivals but also at domestic critics of the memorandum. As pressure on Iran continues, Tehran faces the difficult task of managing economic challenges while maintaining political cohesion and determining whether diplomacy can reduce tensions. Pezeshkian’s latest remarks underline his argument that Iran’s resilience, rather than isolation, will shape the next phase of the country’s confrontation with its adversaries.

  • |

    DR Congo Ebola outbreak exceeds 4,000 confirmed cases

    ByJustpaste.in

    The Democratic Republic of Congo is facing the fastest-spreading Ebola outbreak on record, with official data confirming that total infections have surpassed 4,000 cases. According to the national public health institute, recorded infections have reached 4,053, alongside 1,850 deaths across five provinces: Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu, Haut-Uele, and Tshopo. Research published in the journal Science indicates that the virus was circulating in Ituri as early as January 2026, months before the epidemic was officially declared on 15 May, with over 500 suspected cases occurring during that initial period. Containment efforts continue to be severely hampered by delayed detection, overwhelmed healthcare surveillance, active military conflict, and an absence of vaccines or targeted treatments tailored for the specific viral species involved. Ranking as the world’s second-largest Ebola outbreak in history, the epidemic is surpassed only by the 2014–2016 West African outbreak.

  • |

    Rahul Gandhi slams India’s education system, calls it expensive and corruption-ridden

    ByJustpaste.in

      India’s Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticized the country’s education system, describing it as deeply flawed, expensive, and plagued by irregularities. His remarks came while expressing solidarity with students who have been protesting over issues related to entrance examinations and alleged paper leaks. Speaking on the growing concerns surrounding India’s education sector, Rahul Gandhi said he fully supports the feelings, frustrations, and struggles of students. He stated that the anger displayed by young people is understandable, considering the hardships they have been facing in recent years. According to him, the treatment meted out to students has naturally led to widespread dissatisfaction and protests. Rahul Gandhi argued that India’s education system is not only affected by corruption and alleged manipulation but has also become financially unbearable for ordinary families. He said that the cost of appearing in entrance examinations has increased significantly, placing an enormous financial burden on parents and students. He criticized what he described as an education system that forces families to spend huge amounts of money merely to compete for admission to educational institutions. The Congress leader claimed that charging such high fees for entrance examinations amounts to exploiting families who are already making financial sacrifices to secure a better future for their children. He said many parents invest their savings and borrow money in the hope that their children will receive quality education and fair opportunities. However, according to him, the current system fails to reward those sacrifices. Rahul Gandhi further alleged that after collecting large sums of money from students and their families, authorities often announce that examination papers have been leaked or compromised. He said such incidents destroy the trust of students who spend months, and in many cases years, preparing for highly competitive entrance examinations. The cancellation of exams or questions surrounding their credibility not only wastes students’ time but also causes severe emotional stress and uncertainty about their future. He maintained that repeated incidents of paper leaks and examination irregularities have created frustration among young people across the country. In his view, students have every right to raise their voices and demand accountability from the authorities responsible for conducting these examinations. Gandhi said the protests taking place on the streets reflect the genuine concerns of India’s youth rather than being acts of unnecessary agitation. According to Rahul Gandhi, the government should focus on creating a transparent, affordable, and reliable education system that ensures equal opportunities for all students, regardless of their financial background. He emphasized that education should empower young people instead of becoming a source of anxiety, financial hardship, and disappointment. His comments come at a time when debates over examination management, paper leak allegations, and the rising cost of education continue to dominate public discussion in India. Student groups and opposition parties have repeatedly demanded stronger safeguards to prevent examination irregularities and greater accountability from the authorities. Rahul Gandhi concluded by reiterating his support for students, saying their concerns are legitimate and deserve immediate attention. He stressed that the future of the country depends on its youth and that protecting the integrity of the education system should be a national priority.

  • |

    Modi proposes fast-track courts to quell rising ‘cockroach’ youth protests

    ByJustpaste.in

    Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has pledged to establish fast-track courts to swiftly punish officials involved in examination paper leaks, attempting to contain a widespread youth-led protest movement that has rocked New Delhi and disrupted Parliament. Posting on X in his first public remarks on the crisis, Modi declared that “those who try to harm the future of our youth will not be spared”. The satirical “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP), coined after India’s top judge reportedly likened unemployed youths to “cockroaches”, promptly rejected Modi’s proposal as a superficial “Band-aid” measure. The CJP continues to demand  educational reforms and the immediate resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, who has faced intense pressure following 152 recorded paper leaks over the past decade. The movement has escalated rapidly across India, drawing tens of thousands of demonstrators to New Delhi’s Jantar Mantar and prompting solidarity marches in cities including Mumbai, Chennai, and Hyderabad. Opposition parties, led by Rahul Gandhi, have forced shutdowns in Parliament while demanding that Modi apologise and dismiss Pradhan, as government officials accuse the opposition of exploiting student grievances for political leverage.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *