At least 132 killed in Colombia’s largest earthquake in years

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on the morning of August 16th, resulting in at least 132 deaths and numerous injuries. The temblor, which occurred at a depth of 103km, sent tremors across a vast area of western Colombia. Pereira, a city known for its coffee production, experienced some of the most severe damage. The epicenter was near the village of San José del Palmar in Chocó province, though miraculously no fatalities were reported there despite damaged roads.

A state of emergency has been declared, and the death toll is anticipated to climb as rescue efforts continue. Curfews have been imposed in certain parts of Pereira until early Tuesday morning. Buildings collapsed in cities including Cali, Manizales, Quibdó, and Medellín, with reports of 40 fatalities in Pereira alone. About 65 structures have fallen, leaving over 15 people trapped.