Colombia quake kills 224, leaves 700 injured

A 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 224 people and injuring over 700, according to Punch Nigeria. The quake, described as Colombia's strongest in a century by the US Geological Survey, as reported by Free Malaysia Today, caused widespread destruction, including the collapse of over a hundred homes and office buildings.

Rescue teams are urgently searching for survivors in the affected areas, with many residents spending the night on the streets due to fear of aftershocks or damage to their homes. Free Malaysia Today reports that at least 240 people were killed and over 1,300 injured, according to local authorities.

The Colombian government has declared a state of emergency and pledged a concerted rescue effort, with offers of support from other countries, including Mexico, which has prepared a team of 255 military personnel and rescue equipment to assist in the relief efforts, as reported by Mexico News Daily.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch Nigeria, Mexico News Daily, Free Malaysia Today — 3 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.