At least 20 people have been killed after a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, with tremors also felt in neighboring Ecuador.
The strong earthquake caused extensive damage across several cities, with buildings collapsing and reports of people becoming trapped beneath the rubble.
According to the latest reports, most of the fatalities were recorded in Pereira, while two people were killed in Manizales.
The epicenter was located near San José del Palmar, in the Chocó region, approximately 400 kilometers west of the capital, Bogotá, at a depth of around 107 kilometers.
The situation in Pereira is particularly serious, with several buildings reported to have collapsed and people believed to remain trapped under the debris.
In Manizales, part of the city’s cathedral collapsed, while authorities continue search-and-rescue operations. In Cali, authorities reported that people were trapped inside at least 19 buildings.
The earthquake was felt across a wide area, including parts of Ecuador, prompting residents in several cities to take to the streets amid fears of further collapses and aftershocks.
