Colombia declares state of emergency after powerful earthquake kills over 100

Colombia is grappling with the aftermath of a powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake that struck its western region, leaving at least 111 people dead and 87 injured. The tremor, which occurred early Monday morning, has prompted President Abelardo de la Espriella to declare a state of emergency across the nation.

Rescue efforts are underway to find and extract individuals trapped beneath collapsed buildings, which number at least 61 according to official reports. The earthquake's epicenter was near San José de Palmar in the Chocó department, a coastal area on the Pacific, which is currently being assessed for the full extent of the disaster's impact. The quake's depth was approximately 100 kilometers.

Mayor Mauricio Salazar of Pereira, the capital of Risaralda department, described the situation as critical, reporting numerous injuries and people still trapped. Residents expressed fear of aftershocks, leading to a halt in traffic and people avoiding their homes, many of which sustained structural damage or facade destruction. Six airports in western Colombia have temporarily suspended operations pending damage assessments.

This natural disaster marks the new administration's first major crisis, occurring just days after President de la Espriella's inauguration. The event also brings back memories of a devastating earthquake that hit neighboring Venezuela in June. The government has pledged that the rescue of those trapped in the rubble is the highest priority, with the president en route to Bogotá to manage the national emergency.