Magnitude 7.4 earthquake hits Colombia, felt in neighboring countries

A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake jolted Colombia on Monday morning, shaking cities from Bogota to Cali and causing concern across the region. The epicenter was located near San José del Palmar in the western Chocó department, at a depth of approximately 100 kilometers.

The seismic event, which occurred at 7:34 a.m. local time, was widely felt, with reports indicating it was also perceived in Quito, Ecuador, and Panama. In the neighboring countries, buildings and hospitals underwent precautionary evacuations as a result of the tremor.

Colombian authorities have not yet provided an official toll of victims or detailed assessments of structural damage. A significant aftershock, measuring magnitude 5, was recorded less than an hour after the initial quake, adding to the unease. The full extent of the earthquake's impact is still being determined.