Colombia earthquake kills 132, triggers state of emergency

At least 132 people have been killed and hundreds injured after one of Colombia’s strongest earthquakes in years struck the western part of the country.

The death toll is expected to rise as rescue teams search collapsed buildings for people feared trapped under the rubble.

The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck at 07:34 local time at a depth of 103 kilometres in Chocó province, according to Colombia’s geological service.

BBC reports that the powerful tremor was felt across a vast area, with some of the worst damage reported in the coffee-growing region around Pereira and parts of Valle del Cauca.

Colombian authorities have declared a state of emergency as rescue and recovery operations continue.

The epicentre was near San José del Palmar in Chocó, although local mayor León Fabio Marín Moncada said there were no reported deaths or injuries in the village despite roads being damaged and access routes disrupted.

At least 570 people were injured, according to Colombia’s Association of Capital Cities.

Pereira, located about 55 kilometres from the epicentre, suffered significant damage, with local authorities reporting at least 67 deaths in the metropolitan area.

At least 65 buildings have collapsed in the city, with people believed to be trapped inside 15 of them.

Videos verified by the BBC showed a building collapsing in Plaza Bolívar, Pereira’s main square, leaving debris and dust scattered across the area.

Authorities have imposed a curfew in parts of Pereira until 05:00 local time on Tuesday as emergency operations continue.

Further south, at least 32 buildings collapsed in Cali, about 160 kilometres from Pereira and approximately 200 kilometres from the earthquake’s epicentre.

British tourist Dan Cutler, 29, who was staying in Cali, described the experience as frightening.

“I’ve never experienced anything like it,” he told the BBC.

He said he and his partner were forced to run outside after being woken by the earthquake.

“There’s no major structural damage to the hotel, but there are surface cracks in the walls, and paint and plaster have peeled off,” he said.

Deaths and damage have also been reported in Manizales, Quibdó and Medellín, as well as across Chocó and Valle del Cauca.

Rescue teams and emergency services are continuing to assess the extent of the destruction and search affected areas for survivors.

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