Colombia earthquake: 132 dead, widespread destruction reported

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake has devastated much of Colombia, leaving at least 132 people dead and causing widespread destruction in five departments. The tremor, which struck Monday morning, caught millions of Colombians by surprise.

Survivors recounted harrowing experiences, with Micaela Rodríguez, a resident of Medellín, describing the event as "minutes of uncertainty and desperation." Although she lived in an area less affected structurally, she recalled the terror of the shaking. "The first thing I thought of was my sister and the pets," she said. She noted that while major building collapses were not widespread in her immediate area, one building in Río Negro, on the outskirts of Medellín, was evacuated due to severe structural damage.

The earthquake's impact extends to critical infrastructure. Eighteen roads and seven airports, including those in Pereira, Manizales, and Cali, sustained damage and are currently non-operational for commercial flights. President Abelardo de la Espriella is traveling to Quibdó, the epicenter's capital, to personally oversee the emergency response. Other cabinet members are being dispatched to the heavily impacted Valle del Cauca and Eje Cafetero regions.