Colombia Earthquake Kills 132, State of Emergency Declared

At least 132 people have been killed and a state of emergency declared after one of the most powerful earthquakes in Colombia's recent history struck the country on Monday. The magnitude 7.4 tremor hit Choco province at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT), at a depth of 103 kilometres, according to the national geological service.

Pereira and Cali Worst Hit

The quake was felt across a vast area of western Colombia. The city of Pereira, in the coffee-growing region, suffered the most severe damage: local authorities confirmed at least 40 deaths and 65 collapsed buildings, with rescue teams searching for survivors trapped in 15 of them. A curfew was imposed across parts of the city until 05:00 local time on Tuesday. In Cali, 160 km south of Pereira, 32 buildings collapsed. Deaths were also recorded in Manizales, Quibdo, Medellin and across the Choco and Valle del Cauca regions.

Eyewitness Accounts

Dan Cutler, 29, a British tourist in Cali, described being woken by the tremor: "I've never experienced anything like it. We sprinted outside in our pyjamas. There are surface cracks in the walls and plaster has peeled off." In Manizales, journalist Luis Felipe Molina said strict seismic-resistant building regulations helped limit casualties: "I have 450 books and only a few were left standing on the shelves. You could hear glass breaking and people screaming."

Government Response

Colombia declared a national state of emergency and mobilised rescue teams. The epicentre was near San Jose del Palmar in Choco province. More than 480 people have been confirmed injured, with authorities warning the toll will rise as rescue operations continue.