At least 111 people have been killed after a powerful Colombia earthquake struck the country, with the death toll expected to rise as rescue teams search collapsed buildings for survivors.
The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT) at a depth of 103 kilometres (64 miles) in Chocó province, according to Colombia’s geological service.
The Colombia earthquake was felt across a vast area, stretching hundreds of miles through the western part of the country.
Many of the deaths have been reported in Pereira, in Colombia’s coffee-growing region, while surrounding areas and the Valle del Cauca region have also suffered significant damage.
The epicentre was located near the village of San José del Palmar in Chocó province. However, local mayor León Fabio Marín Moncada said there had been no reported deaths or injuries in the village, despite damage to roads connecting it to other communities.
About 55 kilometres (34 miles) from the epicentre, Pereira recorded some of the worst damage.
Videos verified by the BBC showed a building collapsing in Plaza Bolívar, the city’s main square, sending debris and dust across the area.
Local authorities reported at least 40 deaths in Pereira’s metropolitan area, while 65 buildings had collapsed. People are believed to be trapped inside 15 of the damaged structures.
A curfew has also been imposed in parts of Pereira until 05:00 local time on Tuesday.
In Cali, located about 160 kilometres south of Pereira and approximately 200 kilometres from the epicentre, 32 buildings were reported to have collapsed.
Dan Cutler, a 29-year-old British tourist who has been in Colombia for about two months, was in Cali when the earthquake struck.
“I’ve never experienced anything like it,” he told the BBC.
Cutler said he and his partner ran outside in their pyjamas after being awakened by the powerful shaking. Although their hotel suffered no major structural damage, he said cracks appeared in the walls and some paint and plaster peeled away.
Deaths were also reported in Manizales, Quibdó and Medellín, as well as across the Chocó and Valle del Cauca regions. At least two people were confirmed dead in Manizales.
Angélica Ávila, who was staying at a hotel in Manizales, said cracks appeared in the walls as the earthquake struck.
“Everyone was screaming… I saw dust coming out of the neighbouring buildings, and bricks were falling off the walls,” she told the BBC World Service.
Journalist and meteorologist Luis Felipe Molina, who was at home in Manizales when the earthquake struck, said the city’s strict seismic-resistant building regulations helped his building withstand the impact.
“I have 450 books and only a few were left standing on the shelves. You could hear glass breaking and people screaming,” he told BBC Mundo.
The Colombia earthquake also affected the country’s aviation infrastructure, with the aviation authority reporting damage at several regional airports, including those in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura.
In the capital Bogotá, trees and traffic lights shook violently. Cracks were reported in some buildings, although there were no immediate reports of serious damage to the city’s infrastructure.
The earthquake was powerful enough to be felt in neighbouring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national disaster situation, granting the government special powers to respond to the emergency, including the ability to reallocate budgets.
The president, who had only taken office on Friday, said more than 1,500 homes had been damaged as authorities continued to assess the scale of the destruction.
International support has also begun to emerge as the extent of the disaster becomes clearer.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States was closely monitoring the situation and was ready to provide support. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU’s Copernicus satellite system was being used to assist rescue operations.
El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele also expressed solidarity with the Colombian people and offered personnel and equipment to support rescue efforts.
According to the US Geological Survey, an estimated 1.5 million people experienced shaking close to magnitude seven.
The agency said deep earthquakes such as the one that struck Colombia are generally less dangerous than those occurring closer to the Earth’s surface. However, they can still release significant energy capable of damaging buildings and may produce fewer but potentially stronger aftershocks.
As rescue operations continue, authorities are searching collapsed structures for survivors while assessing damage across several regions affected by the Colombia earthquake.
By : Rachael Djabakie