Magnitude 7.4 earthquake strikes Colombia, killing at least 111

At least 111 people have been killed and hundreds remain missing after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia, the most powerful tremor to hit the country this century, according to the Colombian Geological Service.

The quake on Monday ravaged cities across western Colombia, including Cali, Pereira, Quibdo and Manizales, and was felt in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama.
The epicentre was in San Jose Del Palmar in the Choco region, about 400km (250 miles) west of the capital, Bogota, the US Geological Survey said. The quake struck at a depth of 107km (66 miles).

At least 21 aftershocks followed within hours.

In Cali, the country’s third-largest city, search teams and civilians picked through the remains of destroyed buildings, passing large pieces of concrete and other rubble down a long line of volunteers. Local officials said at least 20 buildings crumbled, while 380 were damaged, trapping many people.

Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver in Cali, told The Associated Press news agency that he saw plumes of dust shoot up across the city as buildings collapsed.

“My entire house shook. I’ve never lived through such a powerful earthquake,” he said. “We’re thanking God we’re alive.”

Juan Carlos Osorio told Caracol Television that the collapse of one building “sounded like a bomb”, as he helped remove debris from a collapsed structure in Cali.

“All of us neighbours are working together, forming human chains. We ⁠need heavy equipment. There are many people trapped.”
The epicentre was in San Jose Del Palmar in the Choco region, about 400km (250 miles) west of the capital, Bogota, the US Geological Survey said. The quake struck at a depth of 107km (66 miles).

At least 21 aftershocks followed within hours.

In Cali, the country’s third-largest city, search teams and civilians picked through the remains of destroyed buildings, passing large pieces of concrete and other rubble down a long line of volunteers. Local officials said at least 20 buildings crumbled, while 380 were damaged, trapping many people.

Jorge Moncayo, a 64-year-old taxi driver in Cali, told The Associated Press news agency that he saw plumes of dust shoot up across the city as buildings collapsed.

“My entire house shook. I’ve never lived through such a powerful earthquake,” he said. “We’re thanking God we’re alive.”

Juan Carlos Osorio told Caracol Television that the collapse of one building “sounded like a bomb”, as he helped remove debris from a collapsed structure in Cali.

“All of us neighbours are working together, forming human chains. We ⁠need heavy equipment. There are many people trapped.”