At least 132 people have died and more than 570 have been injured after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia, on Monday prompting authorities to declare a state of emergency, reports BBC.
The earthquake struck at 07:34 local time at a depth of 103km, with the epicentre near San José del Palmar in Chocó province, according to Colombia’s geological service.
Pereira, about 55km from the epicentre, was among the worst-hit areas. At least 67 people were reported dead in the city’s metropolitan area, while 65 buildings collapsed and people were feared trapped in 15 of them.
Cali, about 160km south of Pereira, also suffered major damage, with 32 buildings reported to have collapsed. Deaths were also reported in Manizales, Quibdó, Medellín and other parts of Chocó and Valle del Cauca.
Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescue teams search collapsed buildings for survivors. A curfew has been imposed in parts of Pereira until early Tuesday, reports BBC.
The earthquake was felt across a vast area of western Colombia, causing widespread panic and damage. Local officials said roads around San José del Palmar were damaged, although no deaths or injuries were initially reported there.
The powerful tremor has been described as one of Colombia’s largest earthquakes in years.
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