Colombia hit by 7.4-magnitude earthquake

A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, causing widespread destruction and claiming at least 181 lives. The quake hit several cities in the country's coffee region and Pacific coast shortly after 7:30 am local time, sending panicked residents fleeing onto the streets. Wilmer Cuesta, a law student from Quibdo, described the violent shaking, with some residents running out naked and others jumping from second-story windows.

The US Geological Survey reported this as Colombia's strongest earthquake in a century and one of its deadliest natural disasters in recent years. Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella, who had only been sworn into office three days prior, declared a state of emergency and vowed to launch a concerted rescue effort. In Cali, volunteers used bare hands and basic tools to search for survivors, forming human chains to remove debris and listen for signs of life.

The destruction was evident in several cities, with furniture and fabrics sandwiched between concrete and walls, and roads littered with fallen electrical cables. Hospitals in five Colombian cities were placed on red alert, and a nighttime curfew was declared in Cali. Shakira, the Colombian pop star, called for unity, urging people to hold each other tight.

The quake was felt across Colombia, including in the capital Bogota, and even in neighboring Ecuador and Panama. Colombian authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescue efforts continued. All professional football matches in the country have been postponed. International support poured in from the United States, European Union, Israel, Mexico, Ecuador, and France.