Dominican singers Juan Luis Guerra and Eddy Herrera led tributes to Colombia after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake killed at least 111 people.
The earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time, causing widespread damage across central and western regions of the South American nation.
Official reports confirmed that at least 87 people were injured in addition to the fatalities, with destruction recorded across at least five departments.
Earthquake damage across Colombia
According to the Colombian Geological Service, the epicenter of the tremor was located in the municipality of San José del Palmar, in the western department of Chocó.
The quake registered at a depth of 103 kilometers, sending strong seismic waves through surrounding areas and major population centers.
Chocó is a heavily forested department along Colombia's Pacific coast, bordered by Panama to the north and the Andes mountain range to the east. San José del Palmar lies in the mountainous interior of the region, where rugged terrain can make emergency access difficult.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella confirmed the initial casualty figures during his first official balance of the disaster.
Following the tragedy, the United States announced an allocation of 15.5 million dollars in aid to assist emergency response and relief operations in Colombia.
Dominican merengue icons send support
Prominent Dominican musicians took to social media shortly after the disaster to express their sorrow and offer support to affected families.
Merengue singer Eddy Herrera, known for his hit song Ajena, was among the first to react publicly. He stated that today more than ever his heart is with the Colombian people as they face the difficult consequences of the earthquake.
Herrera has maintained a close connection with Colombia over several decades. The country developed into one of the most important markets of his career as a leading tropical artist.
Singer Sergio Vargas, famous for the track La quiero a morir, described Colombia as his second homeland and stated that when Colombia suffers, he suffers.
Vargas shared that he wrote his message with a heavy heart, noting that Colombia opened its arms to him and showed him immense affection over the years. He asked God to protect the country, embrace suffering families, and restore peace, tranquility, and hope to its streets.
Vargas is a legendary Dominican merengue performer who gained international acclaim in the 1980s and has frequently toured Colombia, where Dominican tropical music maintains a passionate audience.
Fellow merengue star Wilfrido Vargas also referred to Colombia as his second homeland while offering his condolences.
Wilfrido Vargas expressed deep regret over the situation facing the country and offered his fraternal embrace to the Colombian population. He added his hope that faith would prove stronger than fear, unity would overcome uncertainty, and hope would return to every corner of the land.
Singer-songwriter Juan Luis Guerra posted a picture of the Colombian flag accompanied by a message stating that he was praying for Colombia. Dominican artist Romeo Santos shared a similar image and message of prayer on his social media accounts.
Guerra is one of the most celebrated Latin music artists in history, credited with globalizing merengue and bachata, while Santos is internationally recognized as a pioneer of modern bachata music.
Colombian celebrities call for unity
Several high-profile Colombian figures also mobilized online to encourage relief efforts and national solidarity following the disaster.
Singers Shakira, Maluma, J Balvin, Juanes, Carlos Vives, Camilo, and Sebastián Yatra, along with actress Sofía Vergara, were among the prominent Colombians addressing the crisis.
Maluma expressed deep pain regarding the tragedy and urged Colombians to strengthen their unity in the aftermath of the quake.
Musician Juanes confirmed that he had made a monetary donation to support relief efforts and urged others to contribute if they were able. He noted that in the face of pain everyone shares the same face, emphasizing that Colombia must remain united.
Carlos Vives also appealed for public support, stating that every contribution counts toward helping those impacted by the tremor.
