Powerful Colombia earthquake kills at least 111
BOGOTA, Aug 10 (Reuters) - At least 111 people were killed after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia early on Monday, knocking down buildings across several cities and injuring 87 others, with still more residents trapped in the rubble.
At least 111 people lost their lives after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday morning, causing widespread destruction and leaving many trapped under the rubble. The magnitude 7.4 quake, which originated at a depth of 107 km near San Jose del Palmar in Choco province, was felt across the nation, particularly impacting the coffee-growing region of Risaralda and the capital city of Cali.
President Abelardo De La Espriella declared a national state of emergency and immediately deployed resources to rescue trapped individuals and provide aid to affected communities. Local officials in Cali reported numerous casualties, with some residents describing the aftermath as sounding like a bomb explosion. The Colombian civil aviation authority suspended flights at several airports while conducting inspections for structural damage.
Experts suggest that the earthquake's depth and the location near soft river valleys may have contributed to the severity of the damage, causing more intense shaking than anticipated for a quake of this magnitude.
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