Colombian volunteers and rescuers cleared rubble with their bare hands and buckets to search for survivors early Tuesday after the country’s strongest earthquake in a decade killed at least 132 people and smashed dozens of buildings.
The 7.4-magnitude quake struck cities across Colombia’s western region shortly after 7:30 am (1230 GMT), sending panicked residents onto the streets, AFP journalists saw.
The quake killed 132 people and injured more than 570 as of Monday afternoon, according to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities, a group coordinating major cities across the country.
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella — just three days after being sworn into the job — declared a state of emergency and vowed a concerted rescue effort.
De la Espriella said earlier the death toll was 111.
