Colombia's Civil Aeronautics Authority (Aerocivil) has released an updated status report on the country's airport infrastructure following technical inspections carried out after a powerful earthquake struck the nation's western region, the agency said in a statement.

The magnitude 7.4 quake hit western Colombia on Monday, with its epicentre in San José del Palmar, in the department of Chocó. The disaster has killed at least 240 people, according to a Tuesday update cited by wire agency AFP, with more than 600 people injured and dozens of buildings collapsed across the affected cities of Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdó.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office just days before the disaster, declared a national state of disaster and has said he is personally leading emergency response efforts. Search and rescue operations remain underway as authorities continue working to locate people trapped under rubble.

Aerocivil said the gradual, phased reopening of airports in affected areas has been made possible through the continuous deployment of infrastructure, operational safety, air navigation services, and Aeronautical Firefighters (SAR) teams, with passenger and crew safety prioritised throughout while preserving regional connectivity.

Resumed operations

According to the report, Alfonso Bonilla Aragón Airport in Cali has resumed commercial operations with complete normality, with no incidents or damage reported to its infrastructure or aircraft movement areas.

El Caraño Airport in Quibdó has fully resumed regular commercial operations under a controlled airport modality after verifying the optimal condition of its facilities.

El Edén Airport in Armenia has resumed commercial air transport service as a controlled airport, though the terminal will temporarily be unavailable as an alternate airport for other aircraft due to physical damage.

Gerardo Tovar López Airport in Buenaventura and La Nubia Airport in Manizales have been authorised to operate as uncontrolled airports. At Manizales, the measure is in place while repairs are carried out on the control tower, which suffered cracks and broken windows, after the movement area and runway were confirmed to be in safe condition.

Operational restrictions

Matecaña International Airport in Pereira remains suspended for regular commercial operations and is limited to state, medical, search-and-rescue, and humanitarian aid flights, Aerocivil said.

The restriction will remain while specialised teams repair cracks identified in the runway, disconnect ATS communication systems, and conduct technical evaluations of the control tower structure. The relevant NOTAM has been extended, with the authority maintaining constant contact with the municipality that manages the airport.

Santa Ana Airport in Cartago is operating as an uncontrolled airport, reserved exclusively for state aircraft and emergency or humanitarian services.

Guillermo León Valencia Airport in Popayán has been temporarily closed due to volcanic ash in the area, in line with preventive operational safety protocols.

Colombia's Secretariat of Air Navigation Services said national airspace operations remain fully functional, adding that the continuity, stability, and coverage of communications, surveillance, navigation, and meteorological systems have been reaffirmed under strict safety standards.

Aerocivil said it has deployed user assistance and intermediation teams at the affected terminals to support travellers, and urged passengers with flights to or from areas with operational changes to contact their airlines directly to confirm itinerary status and to rely only on official institutional channels for updates.

Source: Aerocivil/AFP