In brief
A family in Colombia filmed their rapid escape from home just before a powerful 7.4‑magnitude earthquake struck. The mother of four explains that the tremor started as a mild shake but intensified over 30 seconds into a deadly quake. Although the family, including two school‑going children, are safe, the storm killed at least 132 people and devastated the region. Their testimony highlights that while property damage can be repaired, lives are priceless. The incident underscores the need for instant shelter and emergency preparedness in seismic zones.
A family in Colombia filmed their emergency escape when a powerful 7.4‑magnitude earthquake shook their town overnight. The video shows the mother‑of‑four, Liliana Pérez Ocampo, her husband, and their children racing out of their home before the walls began to tremble.
"At first, we thought it was just a mild tremor like the ones that usually happen in Colombia," Ocampo told the BBC World Service. "But when more than 30 seconds passed and everything was shaking harder, we realised it was an earthquake."
The family, who carried two of their children to the street, are currently safe. They shrug off the damage, noting that material losses can be replaced, but life cannot.
The quake marked the strongest seismic event in Colombia in this century, with the Geological Service recording at least 132 fatalities. Thousands of people are still coping with the disaster’s aftermath.
For further details, read more on this story.
