Colombia earthquake: 18 dead after 7.4-magnitude quake

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, resulting in at least 18 deaths and extensive destruction, according to initial reports. The quake's epicenter was located 100 km deep in the west of the country, causing significant damage to buildings across western Colombia. Emergency teams quickly responded to assist victims and search for survivors amidst the rubble.

The early-morning tremor was also felt in neighboring Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela, which had experienced a devastating earthquake in late June. Building evacuations were reported in Bogota, Colombia's capital, with news footage depicting collapsed structures. While officials did not anticipate a tsunami, the situation was deemed critical, particularly in the city of Pereira, where Mayor Mauricio Salazar reported at least 18 fatalities, as relayed to Caracol Radio.

The Choco province, situated at the epicenter of the quake, suffered severe damage, though the exact death toll remained unknown. In Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, Mayor Alejandro Eder stated that 20 buildings had collapsed, with trapped individuals amid the extensive destruction. The quake left residents without electricity or cell phone coverage, describing it as "strong, really strong," as reported by Martha Estrada, a 66-year-old resident of the coffee-growing region.

Major damage assessments were conducted using drones. Six small airports in western Colombia temporarily halted operations due to the disaster. Bogota Mayor Carlos Galan mentioned limited damage to houses and buildings in the national capital, consisting mainly of cracks. President Abelardo de la Espriella pledged to travel to the affected region.

In Venezuela, twin earthquakes of magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5 on June 24 resulted in over 6,000 deaths and substantial property damage.