Colombia has declared a state of emergency after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake killed at least 111 people and injured 87 others, while rescuers continued searching for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings.
The earthquake struck western Colombia at 7:34 am local time on Monday, with its epicentre in the coastal Chocó region at a depth of about 100 kilometres.
President Abelardo de la Espriella said the government had deployed all available resources to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver emergency aid.
More than 1,000 buildings were reported damaged, with Pereira, Cali, Quibdó and Manizales among the worst-hit areas.
Authorities in Pereira reported at least 40 deaths in the wider Risaralda region. In Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, at least 20 buildings collapsed, with people reportedly trapped beneath the rubble.
Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, also suffered serious damage. Local community leader Luis Gregorio Moreno said there were deaths and dozens of injuries, with many people still missing.
In Manizales, the earthquake damaged a tower of a prominent cathedral, while residents avoided returning home because of fears of aftershocks.
The tremor was also felt in Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela. Buildings were evacuated in Bogotá, although only limited damage was reported in the Colombian capital.
Six small airports in western Colombia suspended operations, while football authorities postponed upcoming matches.
The United States, European Union, Israel, Mexico, Ecuador and France offered support to Colombia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was closely monitoring the situation, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU had mobilised its Copernicus satellite service to assist rescue operations.
The disaster has triggered a major search-and-rescue operation as authorities work to locate missing people and assess the full extent of the damage.
