At least 132 killed in Colombia’s largest earthquake in years

A state of emergency has been declared in Colombia after one of the country’s strongest earthquakes in years killed at least 132 people leaving 480 injured.

The magnitude 7.4 quake struck early yesterday in Chocó province at a depth of about 103 kilometres, sending powerful tremors across a wide area of western Colombia. The worst-hit areas include Pereira, where at least 40 people have died and dozens of buildings collapsed, with people feared trapped inside damaged structures.

A curfew has been imposed as emergency crews continue rescue and recovery operations. Authorities are now assessing the full extent of the destruction as search-and-rescue efforts continue across the affected regions and warned that the death toll could rise.

ENDS//