At least 164 people dead after Colombia quake

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 164 people, according to RTE News. The quake, described as the strongest in Colombia this century, damaged hundreds of buildings and left many trapped under debris. The epicenter was in San Jose del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region, about 400 kilometers west of Bogota, as reported by Phys.org and The Vibes.

Rescue workers and civilians searched for survivors in Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, and other affected areas, including Pereira, Quibdo, and Manizales. The earthquake was also felt in neighboring Ecuador and Panama. According to The Vibes and Phys.org, at least 87 people were injured, and around 1,600 buildings were damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed.

Colombia's President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a national state of emergency and promised aid to affected communities, including rent subsidies for those who lost their homes, as reported by The Jakarta Post. The quake struck just days after De la Espriella was sworn in as president, thrusting his administration into its first major crisis.

Brief written by urgent.news from RTE News, Euronews, Phys.org, The Vibes, The Jakarta Post — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.