Colombia has declared a state of emergency after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the western part of the country, killing at least 111 people and injuring 87 others.
The earthquake struck at about 7:34am local time on Monday, triggering rescue operations as several buildings collapsed and people were reportedly trapped under the rubble.
President Abelardo de la Espriella, who was sworn into office just three days ago, announced the emergency declaration from Bogotá.
He said the government had deployed its resources to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver relief to areas hit by the disaster.
According to the president, more than 1,000 buildings were damaged across the affected areas.
The earthquake’s epicentre was located in the coastal Chocó region at a depth of about 100 kilometres. Authorities in the region reported 12 deaths.
Pereira, the capital of Risaralda, was among the worst-hit areas, with officials reporting at least 40 deaths in the region.
The neighbouring city of Manizales also suffered significant damage, with part of a cathedral tower collapsing.
An administrative worker in Manizales, Jaime Zuluaga, said several buildings were damaged and traffic was disrupted as residents remained outside their homes for fear of aftershocks.
People trapped under rubble
In Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, at least 20 buildings collapsed, trapping people beneath the debris, according to Mayor Alejandro Eder.
Serious damage was also reported in Quibdó, the capital of Chocó, where videos showed several buildings reduced to rubble.
A community leader in the city, Luis Gregorio Moreno, said residents were devastated and that authorities were still searching for missing people.
The tremor was also felt in neighbouring Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela, while residents in Bogotá evacuated buildings after feeling the strong shaking.
Six small airports in western Colombia temporarily suspended operations as authorities inspected facilities for possible damage. The country’s football governing body also postponed scheduled matches.
International support
The United States said it was closely monitoring the situation and was prepared to support Colombia.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed Washington’s readiness to assist the country, while European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the European Union had activated its Copernicus satellite service to support rescue operations.
Israel, Mexico, Ecuador and France also offered assistance to Colombia following the disaster.
The earthquake comes as Latin America continues to recover from devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela in June, killing more than 6,000 people and causing widespread destruction.
