Colombia earthquake kills 169, rescuers search rubble

Colombia is scrambling to find survivors after the country's strongest earthquake in a decade killed at least 169 people and destroyed dozens of buildings. The 7.4-magnitude quake struck western Colombia on Monday morning, sending panicked residents into the streets.

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We're without power. This seems honestly like a zombie city.

The disaster has concentrated in Cali, Pereira, Manizales, and Quibdo, where 165 buildings collapsed and over 600 people were injured. President Abelardo de la Espriella, who was sworn in just three days prior, declared a state of emergency and vowed a comprehensive rescue effort.

Pereira, one of the most affected cities, experienced widespread power outages, with residents describing the scene as "like a zombie city." Many expressed fear for their families and friends as structures around them teetered on the verge of collapse. The devastation was likened to a "movie scene" by one resident who witnessed poles and cables swaying violently.

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It was a movie scene, because I saw the poles, the cables, everything moving. I'm worried about my family, my friends.

Scenes of destruction were visible across multiple cities, with furniture and debris filling the spaces between concrete walls. Manizales saw its neo-Gothic cathedral tower crumble, while Quibdo's public services and communications were severely disrupted. Residents recounted harrowing escapes, with some jumping from second-story windows to flee the tremors. "People were praying in the street. It was overwhelming," said one witness.

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People ran out naked, people jumped from the second floor of their homes.

The earthquake, at a depth of 110 kilometers, was felt across Colombia and in neighboring Ecuador and Panama. Experts suggest it was caused by movement along a deep fault within the Nazca tectonic plate. Hospitals in five Colombian cities were placed on high alert.

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People were praying in the street. It was overwhelming.