7.4 earthquake strikes western Colombia, injuries and damage reported
The 7.4-magnitude earthquake's epicenter was at San José del Palmar, about 250 miles west of Colombia's capital, Bogota, officials said.
A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, causing significant damage to buildings and prompting evacuations as far as the capital, Bogotá. The epicenter was in San José del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Chocó region, approximately 250 miles west of Bogotá. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella announced that he is leading the emergency response and will travel to the affected areas.
This earthquake follows two 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude quakes that struck neighboring Venezuela in late June, causing widespread damage and over 5,000 deaths. The area where Monday's quake hit is familiar with seismic activity, having been devastated by a 1999 earthquake that killed more than 1,200 people.
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