Earthquake witness says Colombia earthquake was a ‘sensation you can’t get rid of’

EL PASO, Texas (KVIA) -- The Colombian government declared a state of national emergency as bodies continue being recovered from the rubble of a deadly earthquake Monday. ABC-7's Content Manager Lesley Engle was in Bogota during the country's strongest earthquake in the 21st century.

More than 130 people have died in the earthquake, which measured 7.3 on the Richter scale. There are still ongoing rescue efforts, as many missing people remain unaccounted for. The measurement classifies it as a major earthquake.

"I'm wanting to know, is my family, is this building going to collapse on me and my family?" Engle said.

Sixty buildings have collapsed and more than 1,500 homes have been destroyed, according to Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella.

Engle said she was in the shower when she felt the start of the tremor.

"My shower is all glass. So the door was, you know, opening and slamming shut. So I'm in my mind, I'm thinking I just have to get out of the shower because I'm surrounded by glass and I need to get out." Engle Said.

"It's just it's a feeling I can't even describe," she said. "Even right now, here we are several hours later, and I still feel like I'm swaying. It's the sensation that you can't get rid of."

After Engle evacuated the first time, she returned, but it wasn't long until the aftershocks came and she had to leave again.

"I think aftershocks are always on everyone's mind, you know, sometimes they can be bigger, sometimes they can be smaller. You know, you're on this heightened, level of anxiousness and, you know, you have this anticipatory anxiety, waiting for the next one."

Engle's building has no visible damage. She said neighboring cities like Choco and Cali face devastating destruction.

Rescue operations remain focused on searching through collapsed structures in hard-hit areas, while emergency management officials work to restore communications and assess the full scope of structural destruction across western Colombia.

As families brace for potential aftershocks, local and international disaster response teams continue mobilizing aid to support the thousands left displaced. ABC-7 will continue monitoring developments and provide updates as new details emerge.