More than 100 people have been killed after Colombia was struck by its strongest earthquake in decades, with the government declaring a state of emergency as rescue teams searched collapsed buildings for survivors.
At least 111 people died in the magnitude 7.4 earthquake, President Abelardo de la Espriella said during a crisis meeting Monday afternoon. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescuers continue searching through the rubble, with many people feared trapped beneath collapsed structures.
The earthquake struck at about 7:34 a.m. local time (12:34 p.m. GMT), according to the Colombian Geological Service, known as the SGC. Its epicenter was near the town of San José del Palmar in western Colombia, at a depth of about 103 kilometers (64 miles).
The powerful tremor was followed by numerous aftershocks, further complicating rescue efforts and raising concerns about additional building collapses.
Emergency crews were deployed across affected areas as authorities assessed the scale of the destruction and worked to reach people trapped under the debris.
