Colombia Quake Death Toll Soars to 132 as 7.4-Magnitude Tremor Leaves Trail of Destruction

The scale of the devastation in Colombia is becoming clearer by the hour.

At least 132 people have been killed and another 570 injured after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, CNN reported, citing the Colombian Association of Capital Cities.

Pereira has reported 60 deaths alone, according to the association, which took part in a disaster-response meeting with President Abelardo de la Espriella.

The quake has left a wide trail of destruction, with five capital cities under red alert, 86 buildings reported collapsed and operations at seven airports suspended, CNN reported.

Pereira bears the brunt

Pereira, a city of around 500,000 people, is among the hardest-hit areas. The city lies less than 64 km from the earthquake's epicentre, according to The New York Times.

The wider Risaralda department has emerged as the worst-hit region, Governor Juan Diego Patino told BluRadio, according to CNN.

President de la Espriella said 1,577 residential buildings had been damaged, with another 37 completely destroyed. More than 60 buildings had collapsed, while 18 health centres and 52 schools were also damaged, The New York Times reported.

The president has convened an emergency committee and vowed that his government would "do whatever is necessary" to protect people affected by the disaster.

He also said he would personally lead the recovery effort.

Rescue teams race against time

The earthquake struck at around 7:34 a.m. local time, according to the US Geological Survey, with its epicentre near San José del Palmar in the Chocó region, around 280 km west of Bogotá, at a depth of about 107 km, CNN reported.

In Chocó's regional capital, Quibdó, officials reported injuries and severe damage to buildings, with authorities also warning about the possibility of aftershocks.

Bogotá itself was shaken by the tremor, sending residents out of buildings as alarms sounded.

But initial inspections found no serious structural damage in the capital.

Bogotá sends help

Bogotá is now preparing to send 100 rescuers to some of the worst-hit cities to assist with search-and-rescue operations, Mayor Carlos F. Galán said.

The city has also established six collection points for emergency supplies, including drinking water, blankets, non-perishable food, hygiene products and first-aid materials.

"Please, if you can donate, do so," Galán said in an appeal for assistance.

For now, the focus is on reaching those trapped, treating the injured and assessing the full extent of the destruction.

And with rescue operations still underway, Colombia's toll could rise further.

(With inputs from ANI)