Colombian army deploys over 180 rescuers to search for earthquake victims among rubble

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake rocked central and western Colombia on Monday, leaving at least 111 people dead and hundreds injured. The tremor, with its epicenter in San José del Palmar, Chocó, struck at a depth of 103 kilometers, causing extensive damage across the affected regions.

The Colombian army has mobilized over 180 soldiers, organized into five specialized rescue platoons, to scour the debris for survivors. These teams are being deployed from military bases in Bogotá and Tolemaida, prioritizing areas with the most severe reported damage and at the request of local authorities.

Three platoons are heading to the coffee-growing region, one of the hardest-hit areas. Another will focus on Chocó, the earthquake's epicenter, while the fifth will be deployed to Cali, the capital of Valle del Cauca, which has reported at least 15 deaths and 380 injuries. The rescue units are equipped with advanced technology, including drones, thermal cameras, and motion sensors, to aid their search efforts.

Official reports indicate that in addition to the fatalities, the earthquake damaged 1,575 homes, destroyed 37 completely, and caused 61 buildings to collapse. The government is coordinating relief efforts as the scale of the disaster becomes clearer.