Colombia earthquake: 74 dead as buildings collapse, families dig through rubble for loved ones | In Pics, Videos

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 74 people and causing widespread damage. The epicenter was in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of approximately 4,800 people in the Choco region, about 400 kilometers west of Bogota. The quake also affected neighboring Ecuador and Panama, although minimal damage was reported there.

Cities such as Pereira, Manizales, and Cali were heavily impacted. Preliminary reports indicate that 18 people were killed in Pereira, 2 in Manizales, and 27 in the Valle de Cauca department. Over 20 municipalities across the country were affected. Search teams and residents have been sifting through collapsed buildings to find survivors.

The earthquake was the highest magnitude ever recorded in Colombia in the past decade. Colombia's interior minister said two aftershocks, measuring 2.8 and 4.8, followed the initial quake. Flights were suspended at airports in Manizales, Quibdo, Armenia, Cartago, Buenaventura, and Pereira. In Pereira, photos and videos showed the airport ceiling collapsing onto travelers and people running in panic through rubble.

Mayor Jorge Rojas of Manizales confirmed two deaths in his city due to the quake and advised residents to stay outside in case of aftershocks. In Cali, Mayor Alejandro Eder reported that residents were trapped in at least 19 collapsed buildings. The new President of Colombia, Abelardo de la Espriella, personally took charge of the government's response to the emergency in San Jose del Palmar.