At least 132 people have been killed after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia, triggering widespread destruction and a national disaster declaration.
The earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time on Monday at a depth of about 103km in Chocó province, according to Colombia’s geological service.
More than 480 people were injured, while thousands of residents have been affected by collapsed buildings, damaged roads and disrupted infrastructure.
The worst-hit areas include Pereira, Cali, Manizales and parts of Chocó and Valle del Cauca. In Pereira alone, authorities reported at least 40 deaths, 65 collapsed buildings and fears that people remain trapped in 15 structures.
Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, recorded the collapse of at least 32 buildings, while several structures were also damaged in Manizales. Airports in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura were among facilities affected.
The earthquake was felt hundreds of kilometres away in Bogotá, where residents reported violent shaking and some building cracks. Tremors were also felt in neighbouring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.
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President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national disaster situation, giving the government additional powers to respond to the emergency and reallocate funds. He said more than 1,500 homes had been damaged.
Rescue teams are continuing to search collapsed buildings for survivors as authorities warn that the death toll could rise.
World leaders, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, have expressed solidarity with Colombia and offered support for the rescue operation.
The United States Geological Survey said about 1.5 million people experienced shaking close to magnitude seven.
Although deep earthquakes are generally considered less destructive than shallow ones, they can still release significant energy and cause severe structural damage.
