{"id":24245,"date":"2026-08-19T23:10:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-19T23:10:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=24245"},"modified":"2026-08-19T23:10:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T23:10:28","slug":"vacation-hot-spot-brings-travel-concerns-about-violent-crime-and-quake-fallout","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/playball.com.ng\/?p=24245","title":{"rendered":"Vacation hot spot brings travel concerns about violent crime and quake fallout"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Americans who may be weighing a trip to a South American country are confronting fresh safety concerns after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the western part of Colombia Aug. 10, killing at least 289 people and leaving more than 26,000 homes destroyed, as The Associated Press (AP) reported.<\/p>\n

The quake was centered in Choc\u00f3. Communities there are continuing to recover from widespread damage, according to the AP.<\/p>\n

The deadly earthquake adds another concern for travelers as Colombia remains under a Level 3 “Reconsider Travel” advisory from the U.S. State Department because of crime, terrorism, civil unrest, kidnapping and natural disasters. Several regions carry the more severe Level 4 designation, per the State Department.<\/p>\n

AMERICANS WARNED POPULAR TRAVEL ROUTES THIS SUMMER COULD CARRY CRIME AND KIDNAPPING RISKS<\/strong><\/p>\n

U.S. officials have also cautioned that foreign visitors can be targeted by criminals, including schemes involving drugs used to incapacitate victims before robberies or assaults.<\/p>\n

The epicenter of the earthquake was near San Jos\u00e9 del Palmar in Choc\u00f3, along Colombia’s Pacific coast and roughly 250 miles west of the capital city of Bogot\u00e1, according to the AP.<\/p>\n

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A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Aug. 10, killing at least 289 people and destroying thousands of dwellings.<\/span> (Joaquin Sarmiento\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Footage obtained by Fox News Digital shows the aftermath of the earthquake in Pereira, with furniture overturned and household belongings scattered across floors in one house.<\/p>\n

Nearly 1.2 million visitors from the United States traveled to Colombia in 2024, according to the country’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Tourism.<\/p>\n

CRUISE DIRECTOR WARNS OVERNIGHT HOTEL STAYS COULD LEAVE PASSENGERS STRANDED ABROAD<\/strong><\/p>\n

American travelers frequently visit destinations including Cartagena on the Caribbean coast, as well as Medell\u00edn and Bogot\u00e1.<\/p>\n

Though the earthquake struck outside the major tourist hubs, travelers may still need to consider conditions in affected areas when planning transportation and itineraries.<\/p>\n

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The powerful earthquake hit near San Jos\u00e9 del Palmar in Choc\u00f3, along Colombia’s Pacific coast, according to The Associated Press.<\/span> (Jonh Bonilla\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Fox News Digital reached out to the State Department for additional information.<\/p>\n

While earthquakes and other natural disasters are rare while on vacation, they do happen, travel expert and journalist Angel Castellanos told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n

“We see travelers caught in these situations all the time,” said Castellanos, who has visited Colombia multiple times.<\/p>\n

He recommended travelers first determine whether their itineraries include affected areas.<\/p>\n

“Check in on their airline to make sure that the flight is still happening, that the routes are not impacted for their particular itineraries,” Castellanos said, adding that travel insurance is a necessity.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER<\/strong><\/p>\n

“I always advise travelers to purchase travel insurance once they start spending the big dollars on big-ticket items like airfare and like hotels,” he added.<\/p>\n

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More than 26,000 dwellings were destroyed after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, according to officials.<\/span> (Jonh Bonilla\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

“That way they’re fully covered, but definitely look into it a lot more and just check on the airlines first.”<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE NEWS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Castellanos also encouraged Americans traveling abroad to enroll in the State Department’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, or STEP.<\/p>\n

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Nearly 1.2 million U.S. visitors traveled to Colombia in 2024.<\/span> (iStock)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The program allows travelers to register their trip with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate.<\/p>\n

TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/strong><\/p>\n

“You should think of it as a really boring travel chore that you should do for your mom or your grandma or your loved ones,” Castellanos said.<\/p>\n

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP<\/strong><\/p>\n

“It allows you to register your complete itinerary in case something goes wrong.”<\/p>\n

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