At least 224 people have been killed and more than 570 injured after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia, prompting President Abelardo de la Espriella to declare a national disaster as rescue teams search for survivors trapped beneath damaged structures.
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time on Monday at a depth of about 103 kilometres, according to Colombia’s geological service.
The tremor was felt across a wide section of the country and in neighbouring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.
The epicentre was located near San José del Palmar in Chocó province.
Despite being closest to the point where the earthquake originated, the village reportedly recorded no deaths or injuries.
However, access roads were damaged, hampering movement in and out of the area.
The city of Pereira, roughly 55 kilometres from the epicentre, suffered some of the most severe destruction.
Authorities said 67 people had died across its metropolitan area, while 65 structures collapsed.
Fifteen of those buildings are believed to have people trapped inside.
Footage verified by the BBC showed a building coming down in Plaza Bolívar, Pereira’s main square, leaving rubble and clouds of dust in an area where residents had gathered.
Authorities imposed a nighttime curfew in parts of Pereira until 5 a.m. Tuesday as emergency operations continued.
Cali, about 160 kilometres south of Pereira, also suffered substantial damage, with 32 buildings reported to have collapsed.
Other casualties were recorded in Manizales, Quibdó and Medellín, as well as parts of Chocó and Valle del Cauca.
At least two people were confirmed dead in Manizales.
Residents described scenes of panic as buildings shook and masonry fell from walls.
A resident, Angélica Ávila, said she was staying at a hotel when the tremor struck. She reported seeing cracks form in the walls while dust and pieces of brick fell from nearby buildings.
Journalist and meteorologist Luis Felipe Molina, who lives in Manizales, said his home experienced intense shaking.
He noted that strict earthquake-resistant construction standards in the city helped prevent greater structural damage.
The earthquake also disrupted aviation services.
Colombia’s aviation authorities reported damage at airports serving Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura.
In Bogotá, hundreds of kilometres from the epicentre, trees and traffic signals were seen moving violently.
Some buildings developed cracks, although officials said there was no immediate indication of major damage to the capital’s infrastructure.
President de la Espriella, who assumed office on Friday, said more than 1,500 homes had been affected.
His declaration of a national disaster situation gives the government additional authority to redirect public funds and mobilise resources for the emergency response.
Rescue and assessment teams continued working as officials warned that the number of fatalities could increase because people may still be beneath collapsed buildings.
International assistance has also been offered.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington was monitoring developments and was prepared to assist.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU’s Copernicus satellite system was supporting rescue and damage-assessment efforts.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele expressed solidarity with Colombia and offered personnel and equipment to assist the emergency response.
The US Geological Survey estimated that approximately 1.5 million people experienced shaking of nearly magnitude seven.
Scientists said the earthquake’s considerable depth may have reduced its overall destructive potential compared with a shallower event.
However, deep earthquakes can still transfer substantial energy to structures and may produce fewer, but potentially powerful, aftershocks.
With rescue operations still underway, authorities are continuing to assess the full scale of the destruction and determine whether additional victims remain trapped.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong