Pop star Shakira traveled to the earthquake-stricken province of Chocó in Colombia on Monday following a magnitude 7.4 earthquake that caused major damage.
The powerful tremor claimed the lives of 300 people and left 1,600 others injured across the region, according to reports broadcast by French television network TF1info.
The disaster caused widespread devastation throughout Chocó, destroying infrastructure and prompting immediate emergency responses across affected municipalities.
Journalist Ségolène Alunni reported on the artist's trip during the C'est show segment of the morning program Bonjour ! La Matinale TF1, produced by the TF1info video editorial team.
Devastation in Chocó province
The earthquake measured 7.4 on the Richter scale, placing it among the major seismic events capable of inflicting heavy structural damage and ground rupture over large populated regions.
The Richter scale is a logarithmic measurement system used by seismologists to calculate earthquake magnitude, where each whole number increment indicates a tenfold increase in measured wave amplitude.
Chocó is a department in western Colombia situated along the Pacific Ocean coast, defined by dense tropical rainforests, heavy rainfall, and river basin terrain.
Due to its remote geography and limited overland road networks, communities in Chocó frequently face significant logistical hurdles when receiving humanitarian relief during natural disasters.
Colombia sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a major geological belt around the Pacific Ocean basin characterized by frequent volcanic activity and powerful tectonic earthquakes.
Shakira's Colombian background and advocacy
Shakira, born Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll in Barranquilla, Colombia, is an internationally acclaimed singer and songwriter known for bringing Latin pop music to global audiences.
The Grammy-winning performer has long maintained an active role in social advocacy within Colombia, founding the Pies Descalzos Foundation to build schools and support vulnerable children.
She has also served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, advocating for early childhood education and emergency humanitarian support worldwide.
Her visit to Chocó highlights the ongoing relief needs in the province as search, rescue, and rehabilitation efforts continue in the wake of the disaster.
