Colombia earthquake kills at least 18, damages buildings and airports

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake jolted Colombia on Monday morning, leaving at least 18 people dead and causing extensive damage to buildings and infrastructure. The seismic event, which occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time, had its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó, at a depth of 82 kilometers, according to the Colombian Geological Service.

The tremors were felt across large parts of the country's center and west, as well as in neighboring Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela. The most severe damage has been reported in the cities of Cali, Manizales, and Pereira. The Civil Aeronautics agency announced that operations at six airports, Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura, have been suspended pending structural assessments.

In Pereira, 18 fatalities were confirmed, with Mayor Mauricio Salazar describing the situation as "critical." Cali is grappling with at least 20 collapsed structures, and rescue efforts are underway to find people trapped inside. Manizales also reported collapsed homes and damage to several churches, including a partial collapse of one of the towers of its cathedral. Authorities have established shelters for those displaced by the earthquake.