Telemundo‘s Operación Triunfo Season 1 finale was marred by sadness after the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck Colombia on Monday, August 10.
The singing competition was to be full of joy as one singer was crowned the winner of the talent show following weeks of arduous work.
Although the show is produced for the United States Latino audience, Telemundo produces the talent competition in Colombia.
At the top of the finale, host Natalia Tellez acknowledged the recent events that have devastated the country.
“Before starting our grand finale full of music and emotions, we want to take a couple of moments to send a big hug to all the Colombians who have been affected by the earthquake that took place this morning,” she said. “Colombia is part of the Operación Triunfo Estados Unidos family, because we produce the program here in RCN’s studios and there’s a big human team that works day by day to make this dream possible.”
She continued, “Tonight, our hearts are with all of you; it’s with all the families that are worried or anguished and all those that have lost their loved ones.”
Judges David Bisbal, Ximena Sariñana and Ana Bárbara were visibly affected by the events that took place in Colombia that have taken the lives of more than 100 people, at the time of this post. According to CNN, the 7.4-magnitude quake had its epicenter in San José del Palmar, about 149 miles west of Bogotá, the nation’s capital.
Bogotá is where RCN’s studios are and where Operación Triunfo films. Although the tremor was felt in the country’s capital, no major structural damage has been reported, according to the mayor Carlos F. Galán.
