Colombia Earthquake Kills 132, President Declares Emergency

On a Tuesday morning shortly after 7:30 am (1230 GMT), a 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia, resulting in at least 132 fatalities and over 570 injuries, as reported by the Colombian Association of Capital Cities. The quake primarily affected cities in Colombia's western region, including Pereira, which experienced significant destruction and power outages.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, who had just been sworn in three days prior, declared a state of emergency and initiated a rescue operation. Eyewitness accounts described scenes of chaos, with residents fleeing their homes and many buildings collapsing.

In Manizales, a tower of the neo-Gothic cathedral was crumpled, while Quibdo faced a shutdown of public services and communications. Hospitals in five cities were placed on red alert, and a nighttime curfew was imposed in Cali.

The earthquake was felt as far as Ecuador and Panama, attributed to movement along a fault in the Nazca tectonic plate.