Medellin razes Pablo Escobar's home in symbol of rebirth

A six-floor apartment building in Medellin that Pablo Escobar once called home was demolished Friday in an emotional ceremony that officials hope will dampen some of the fervour for the notorious drug lord's criminal life and instead showcase the city's rebirth.

Rogelio Gomez, the engineer in charge of the demolition, said that 180 detonators were used to topple the Monaco building and a 100 meter (328 feet) security zone was designated around the area.

"1,500 people who live nearby were evacuated for security," he also said.

The explosion took place at 11:53 local time and sent a cloud of dust 10 meters (33 feet) into the air.

Colombian President Ivan Duque, who was still a teenager when Escobar was killed in 1993 in a rooftop shootout with police, said the explosion "means that history is not going to be written in terms of the perpetrators but by recognising the victims."