Colombia’s Museo de Arte de Pereira has closed following extensive damage caused by a powerful earthquake that struck the country.

The museum is among several cultural institutions facing the impact of the disaster as emergency crews continue rescue operations in affected areas.

Museum Suffers Extensive Damage

Alejandro Garces, a curator at the Museo de Arte de Pereira, shared photographs showing damage to the institution following the earthquake.

The museum is located around 220 miles west of Bogotá and is considered an important cultural institution for Colombia’s coffee-growing region.

The surrounding area includes the departments of Caldas, Risaralda and Quindío, which together form the region commonly known as the Zona Cafetera, or coffee triangle.

Earthquake Creates Wider Threat to Cultural Institutions

The museum damage comes as emergency teams continue working to locate survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.

Authorities and rescue workers have been racing against the critical 72-hour period often described as the “golden window” for finding people who may still be alive beneath the rubble.

While saving lives remains the immediate priority, the earthquake has also created serious challenges for museums and other cultural institutions in the region.

Pereira Museum’s Importance to the Region

The Museo de Arte de Pereira plays an important role in the cultural life of the coffee triangle.

Its closure highlights how natural disasters can threaten not only homes and infrastructure but also museums, artworks and cultural heritage.

Further assessments will be needed to determine the full extent of the damage and what will be required to restore the museum.

As emergency operations continue, cultural organisations in the region are also facing the difficult task of protecting collections and historic institutions from further damage.