A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 47 people and causing widespread damage across several cities. Rescue teams have been deployed to affected areas as authorities work to assess the full impact of the disaster.
The earthquake was centered near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, around 400 kilometres west of the capital, Bogotá. The US Geological Survey recorded the earthquake at a depth of about 107 kilometres. Strong tremors were also felt in neighbouring Ecuador.
Several buildings were reported to have collapsed in Pereira, Cali and Quibdó, leaving people trapped under rubble. In Manizales, part of a tower belonging to a historic neo-Gothic cathedral also collapsed. Emergency workers and rescue teams rushed to the affected areas to search for survivors and assist those injured.
Pereira was among the worst-hit areas, with authorities describing the situation there as critical. At least 18 of the reported deaths occurred in the city, according to the initial reports.
The earthquake also caused major disruption to air travel. Six airports in western Colombia were reportedly damaged, forcing authorities to suspend operations while safety inspections and repair work are carried out.
Rescue and recovery operations are continuing, and officials are still assessing the extent of the destruction. The number of deaths and the scale of the damage could increase as emergency teams reach more affected areas and search through damaged buildings.
