State of emergency declared as rescue teams search collapsed buildings
At least 132 people have been killed and more than 480 injured after a powerful magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck Colombia, with authorities warning that the death toll could rise as rescue teams search collapsed buildings.
Strong earthquake hits Chocó
The earthquake struck at 07:34 local time on Monday at a depth of about 103 kilometres in Chocó province, according to Colombia’s geological service. Tremors were felt across a wide area of the country and in neighbouring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.
Pereira among worst-hit areas
The city of Pereira and surrounding areas suffered some of the heaviest damage. Local authorities reported at least 40 deaths in the metropolitan area and 65 collapsed buildings, with people believed to be trapped in 15 of them.
Videos from Pereira showed a building collapsing in Plaza Bolívar, leaving debris and dust across the main square. A curfew has been imposed in parts of the city until Tuesday morning.
Cali and other cities affected
Cali, about 160 kilometres south of Pereira, reported 32 collapsed buildings. Deaths were also reported in Manizales, Quibdó and other parts of Chocó and Valle del Cauca, while several regional airports sustained damage.
Rescue operations continue
Authorities are working to locate people trapped beneath collapsed structures while assessing damage to homes and public infrastructure. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national disaster situation and said more than 1,500 homes had been damaged.
International support offered
The earthquake has prompted offers of assistance from abroad. The United States said it was monitoring the situation and ready to provide support, while the European Union said its Copernicus satellite system was being used to assist rescue efforts. El Salvador also offered personnel and equipment.
Aftershocks remain possible
The US Geological Survey estimates that around 1.5 million people experienced strong shaking. Although deep earthquakes are generally considered less dangerous than shallower ones, they can still cause significant structural damage.
Recent regional disaster
The earthquake comes less than two months after twin earthquakes struck northern Venezuela, killing more than 6,300 people and causing widespread destruction.
