7.4 magnitude earthquake shakes Colombia, causing serious damage – latest news

At least 111 have died and 87 people injured after dozens of buildings collapsed following a 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck western Colombia on Monday morning – the largest to hit the country so far this century. After declaring a state of national disaster, Colombia’s new president, Abelardo de la Espriella, said in an address to the nation that his government had deployed all of its capabilities “to protect lives, assist affected ‌communities and deliver aid wherever it is needed”. “The first priority is rescuing the people trapped under the rubble,” he said after around 1,600 buildings had been damaged, including at least 61 that completely collapsed.

The president declared an emergency to expedite funding for the quake recovery while saying he would visit the disaster zone. “We aren’t going to leave people alone. They are in our hearts and we are going to tend to people with our full determination,” he said.

The quake hit the remote Chocó region around 7.30am local time on Monday morning and was felt as far as the capital Bogotá (250 miles away), as well as neighbouring countries Ecuador, Venezuela and Panama. The epicentre was in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people, and the initial quake was followed by two 2.8 and 4.8 magnitude aftershocks.

Local officials confirmed deaths across several regions, including the coffee region of Risaralda and in Valle del Cauca, while rescue teams race to free people trapped under debris of collapsed buildings. Among the worst-hit areas was the city of Pereira, where at least 40 people have been killed, according to the mayor. In the department of Chocó, at least 12 people were killed, according to the local governor there, and at least 27 deaths have been reported in the neighbouring Valle del Cauca department, including at least three children and including 15 people in Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city.

The United States and countries across Europe and Latin America offered support. The Trump administration is “closely monitoring” the earthquake, US secretary of state Marco Rubio said earlier, adding that Washington “stands ready to support” the people and the pro-Trump government. Other countries including Ecuador, France, Mexico and Brazil also offered support.

It all comes less than two months after two earthquakes devastated parts of Venezuela, killing more than 6,100 people.