Colombia scrambles to find survivors as quake kills 169

In Colombia, the country's strongest earthquake in a decade struck cities in the western region, leaving at least 169 people dead and over 600 injured. The 7.4-magnitude quake occurred shortly after 7:30 am on Monday, causing panic and residents to flee onto the streets. Notable cities impacted were Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo, with 165 buildings collapsing.

President Abelardo de la Espriella declared a state of emergency and pledged a concerted rescue effort. In Pereira, a city among the hardest hit, darkness fell due to power outages as volunteers scoured the rubble for survivors. Andres Hernandez, a tattoo artist, expressed concern for his family and friends, fearing structures near him were "on the verge of collapsing."

Manizales saw its neo-Gothic cathedral crumble, while Quibdo's public services and communications were virtually shut down. Quibdo resident Wilmer Cuesta recounted residents running naked or jumping from the second floor of their homes during strong tremors. The quake was felt across Colombia, including the capital Bogota, and extended to neighboring Ecuador and Panama.

Hospitals in five Colombian cities were placed on red alert, and nighttime curfews were declared in Cali. International support followed, with the US pledging $15.5 million in emergency relief and the EU mobilizing Copernicus for rescue efforts.