Colombia earthquake toll rises to 132: What is the scale of destruction and rescue operations?

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia early Monday morning, killing at least 132 people and causing extensive damage. The epicenter was near San José del Palmar in Chocó province, but the shaking was felt as far away as Bogotá, 150 miles away, and even in neighboring Venezuela, Ecuador, and Panama. The worst damage occurred in the coffee-growing city of Pereira, about 55km from the epicenter, where at least 40 people died and 65 buildings collapsed.

Rescue teams believe people are still trapped in 15 of these collapsed buildings. The earthquake also caused damage in major cities like Cali, Manizales, and Quibdó. President Abelardo de la Espriella, who took office just three days earlier, declared a national disaster, granting him special powers to allocate emergency funds quickly.

He confirmed over 1,500 homes were damaged and sent soldiers to the affected regions. International aid has also arrived, including a $15.5 million donation from the United States for shelter, food, and emergency needs.