Colombia's Strongest Earthquake This Century

A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 132 people and leaving hundreds more missing, in what the Colombian Geological Service has confirmed as the most powerful earthquake to hit the country this century. The quake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time, with its epicentre in the municipality of San Jose del Palmar in the Choco department, roughly 250 miles (400 km) west of the capital, Bogota, according to the US Geological Survey. It struck at a depth of 66 miles (107 km) and was followed by at least 21 aftershocks within hours.

Cities Across Western Colombia Under Red Alert

Five capital cities, including Pereira, Cali, Quibdo, Manizales and Armenia, remain under "red alert," Colombia's highest-level disaster threat status, according to the country's Association of Capital Cities, which provided the updated death toll. At least 86 buildings have collapsed nationwide, and hospitals, schools, roads, aqueducts, energy supply and telecommunications have all been disrupted in the hardest-hit regions.

Regional Death Tolls

Local authorities reported at least 40 deaths in the Risaralda region, home to the badly damaged city of Pereira, and 27 deaths in the Valle del Cauca region, where Colombia's third-largest city, Cali, is located, including three children. Officials also confirmed nine deaths in Choco near the epicentre, two more in the Caldas region, and one further death in the Antioquia region. Choco's governor, Nubia Carolina Cordoba, said 12 people had been killed and 84 injured in her largely rural, jungle-covered department, where communications outages have slowed damage assessments.

National Emergency Declared

Colombia's President Abelardo De la Espriella, who took office only days before the disaster, declared a state of national emergency to speed up funding and mobilise additional resources to the worst-affected regions. Seven airports, including those in Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura and Pereira, have suspended flight operations.

Rescue Efforts Underway Amid Rubble

In Cali, search and rescue teams worked alongside civilian volunteers, passing chunks of concrete and debris down long human chains as they searched for survivors trapped beneath collapsed buildings. In Pereira, local media footage showed parts of the regional airport's ceiling collapsing onto travellers sheltering inside.

Echoes of a Deadly 1999 Disaster

The disaster has drawn comparisons to a magnitude 6.1 earthquake that struck Colombia's coffee-growing region in January 1999, killing 1,185 people and destroying nearly 36,000 homes, with the city of Armenia bearing the brunt of that disaster. That earlier tragedy prompted Colombia to strengthen its disaster preparedness, including regular evacuation drills held at least twice a year in major cities such as Bogota, Medellin, Barranquilla and Cali.

Follows Deadly Venezuela Earthquakes

Monday's quake comes just weeks after twin earthquakes struck neighbouring Venezuela in late June, killing more than 6,000 people and displacing nearly 18,000 residents. The tremor from Monday's Colombia earthquake was felt as far away as Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela.

Celebrities and Public Figures Respond

Colombian singer Karol G said her foundation, Con Cora, was working to support affected families, while fellow Colombian artist Shakira also offered a message of solidarity, saying her heart was with everyone affected by the earthquake.