A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, killing at least 132 people and injuring around 570 others, according to authorities. The quake caused widespread destruction across several cities, with rescue teams searching through the rubble of collapsed buildings for survivors. Officials said the death toll could rise as emergency workers continue operations and additional tremors remain possible.

President Abelardo De La Espriella said at least 1,575 homes, 18 health centres and 52 schools had been damaged in the earthquake. At least 61 buildings had completely collapsed, he said, as the government declared an emergency to speed up funding and relief efforts. The earthquake was followed by 21 aftershocks, adding to concerns among residents and rescue workers operating in affected areas.

Videos from the disaster zone showed the extent of the destruction and the frantic rescue efforts. Footage from Pereira showed a four-storey building reduced to rubble, while images from Manizales captured a side tower of the city's landmark neo-Gothic cathedral collapsing and sending debris onto nearby streets. In Cali, rescue workers were seen helping people out through the windows of a hospital as emergency teams responded to damage caused by the powerful tremor.

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A video broadcast by Caracol Television showed rescuers pulling a dust-covered six-month-old girl from beneath rubble. The broadcaster reported that the baby and her mother were rescued from under a five-storey building in Cali. Authorities and local residents continued searching damaged structures for survivors, with officials warning that the scale of the destruction could become clearer as rescue teams reach more remote areas.

The Colombian Geological Service described the earthquake as the country's strongest recorded quake of the 21st century. The Pacific region around the epicentre lies along the “Ring of Fire”, a zone surrounding the Pacific Ocean where major seismic activity is common. The quake affected the Choco region, one of Colombia's poorest areas, where dense jungle and limited road access could make it difficult for authorities to assess the full extent of the damage.

Northwestern University seismologist Suzan van der Lee told Reuters that the earthquake's powerful magnitude, inland location and strike-slip movement may have contributed to the severe damage in populated valleys. She noted that the quake occurred considerably below the Earth's crust, which would normally reduce surface shaking, but its strength still produced significant movement. Colombia's complex interaction of several major tectonic plates also makes seismic activity in the region particularly difficult to analyse, she said.

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