Local community reacts to deadly earthquake in Colombia

COACHELLA VALLEY, Calif. (KESQ) - The shockwaves from a powerful earthquake in Colombia are being felt here in the Coachella Valley — where local residents with family and friends back home are watching the destruction unfold.

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia Monday, damaging buildings, tearing apart roads and leaving communities facing a long recovery.

For Vanessa Vasco, the disaster is personal.

Vasco is from Manizales, Colombia, one of the areas most affected by the earthquake. She recently returned to the Coachella Valley after visiting her hometown and says it has been painful to watch the destruction from afar.

“I was in Colombia like two weeks ago and my city so beautiful, I left everything okay, and now my city is destroyed, all the people in pain, it’s very painful for me,” Vasco said.

Her family is safe, but she says one of her friends lost her home after the earthquake struck.

“My friend she just run away to save her life and her home collapsed and lost everything,” Vasco said.

Vasco says people in Colombia remain worried another earthquake could happen, but she is also seeing people come together to help those affected.

“All the people are very concerned because they are afraid it will happen again, but all the people are helping,” she said.

She says the road to recovery will be long, with many buildings damaged and families left trying to rebuild their lives.

For information on how you can help people affected by the earthquake, click here.

Stay with News Channel 3 for more.