Magnitude 7.4 quake rocks western Colombia, killing at least 111 people

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The quake's epicenter was in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region. According to the New Straits Times and Free Malaysia Today, at least 111 people were killed, and over 1,500 buildings were damaged.

Rescue efforts were underway in several cities, including Cali, where search teams and civilians were picking through the remains of destroyed buildings. Andres Felipe Mejia, a Cali resident, volunteered for the rescue effort, saying they were trying to get everyone out alive.

The Colombian government declared a state of emergency, and hospitals were put on red alert. Authorities warned that the death toll could rise as rescuers continued to search for survivors in collapsed buildings.

Brief written by urgent.news from NPR, Daily Times, New Straits Times, Free Malaysia Today, The New York Times — 5 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.