South Jersey woman awaits word from family after Colombia earthquake
PENNSAUKEN, N.J. (WPVI) -- Colombia's president has declared a national disaster days after being sworn into office following a devastating 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday.
Rescue efforts are underway, and authorities expect the death toll to rise as many people remain trapped.
The earthquake hit at about 7:30 a.m. local time, with its epicenter located about 250 miles west of Bogotá. Videos from the region showed collapsed buildings and widespread damage.
One South Jersey woman is anxiously waiting for updates from family members affected by the quake.
READ MORE | At least 111 dead, buildings collapsed after 7.4-magnitude earthquake shakes western Colombia
Sandra Bruce, owner of Los Parceros Steakhouse in Pennsauken and a native of Colombia, said she learned of the earthquake after turning on the television Monday morning.
"He turned the TV on and looked at the news, and we saw it was a 7.4 - big earthquake," Bruce said.
Bruce said the earthquake struck near her hometown of Pereira.
"It was very close to our city, Pereira. So we started to call the family, everybody, but we cannot get in touch," she said.
She said she has been able to reach some relatives. Video provided by Bruce showed family members gathered in the street while the ground continued to shake.
Bruce said it has been difficult to see images of the destruction in her hometown.
"It's a lot of damage. A lot of people die already. It's very sad. It's painful," she said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a social media post Monday that the Trump administration is closely monitoring the earthquake and stands ready to help the people of Colombia.
Bruce said she hopes local efforts to collect and send supplies to Colombia will begin in the coming days.
"When we are here, we can't do nothing. It's very sad," she said.
The Colombian Consulate in Newark said it is working to help Colombian nationals in New Jersey and Pennsylvania connect with family members affected by the earthquake, though officials said they are still awaiting more information in many cases.
