Several Colombian Airports Sustain Damage and Temporarily Suspend Operations Following 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake striking western and central Colombia on Monday has caused structural damage to the country’s aviation infrastructure, forcing the preventive suspension of flight operations at several airports. Colombia’s Civil Aviation Authority (Aerocivil) confirmed that the measure aims to ensure operational safety while technical assessments are underway.
Damage Assessment of Aviation Infrastructure
The quake, centered near the town of San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó at 07:34 local time, directly impacted regional air connectivity. According to official reports issued by Aerocivil, the affected terminals with temporarily suspended operations are:
- Matecaña International Airport – Pereira
- La Nubia Airport – Manizales
- El Caraño Airport – Quibdó
- El Edén International Airport – Armenia
- Santa Ana Airport – Cartago
- Gerardo Tobar López Airport – Buenaventura
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Meanwhile, Cali Airport resumed operations after a 90-minute suspension following inspection and clearance of its terminal facilities by authorities.
Strategic Location and Regional Impact
The affected facilities play a critical role in central and western Colombia’s air connectivity. The airports in Pereira, Manizales, and Armenia serve the Coffee Triangle (Eje Cafetero), one of the hardest-hit regions. Quibdó Airport serves as the primary aerial gateway to the department of Chocó, near the epicenter on Colombia’s Pacific coast.
The airports in Cartago and Buenaventura, alongside Cali, are located in the department of Valle del Cauca, where local authorities reported the collapse of at least twenty buildings in the capital. The earthquake was felt strongly across much of Colombia, as well as in neighboring Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.
Passenger Guidance and Operational Monitoring
Aerocivil stated that it is continuously monitoring the state of the airport infrastructure and urged passengers to check directly with their respective airlines regarding flight status, as the grounding will cause network-wide disruptions to domestic flight schedules. Technical assessments of runways and terminal facilities will continue before proceeding with the gradual reopening of services.
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