Colombia hit by 7.4-magnitude earthquake, with injuries and damage reported

A magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck parts of Colombia and Ecuador, causing significant damage and claiming lives. The death toll reached 132, with 570 people injured, according to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities. This quake followed two major ones in Venezuela last June which caused over 5,000 fatalities. The Colombian government declared a national emergency after a powerful earthquake hit the western part of the country, collapsing buildings and trapping people under the rubble.

The quake's epicenter was 100km underground, with tremors also felt in Panama, Ecuador, and Venezuela. Colombia's National Unit for Disaster Risk Management received reports from nine departments and all 32 departmental capitals, triggering evacuations and initial damage reports. The US Geological Survey stated that significant casualties and damage were likely due to the disaster being widespread.

President de la Espriella declared a state of emergency after the quake, which occurred just days after his inauguration. He promised rescue efforts, aid delivery, and rent subsidies for affected individuals. Citizens and residents shared their experiences of the shaking, loss of essential services, and the frantic attempts to rescue trapped individuals.

The earthquake forced the suspension of six Colombian airports and prompted curfews in several cities. Rescue teams worked tirelessly to dig out survivors from the rubble, with some success, including the rescue of a six-month-old baby and her mother in Cali.