Colombian Earthquake Toll Climbs Past 100 as Rescue Efforts Continue

A powerful earthquake that struck western Colombia has

A powerful earthquake that struck western Colombia has left at least 111 people dead, according to official figures released on Thursday, as emergency crews comb through rubble in search of survivors. The 7.4-magnitude quake, which hit late on Wednesday, flattened homes, triggered landslides, and severed roads and communication lines across several towns.

The epicenter was located near the Pacific coast, about 120 kilometers from the city of Cali, in a region already grappling with poverty and recent flooding. Witnesses described a prolonged shaking that sent residents fleeing into the streets, many of whom lost everything in a matter of seconds. In the town of El Cairo, a local official reported that entire neighborhoods had been reduced to wreckage, with the death toll expected to rise.

Rescue teams, including firefighters, police, and military units, have been deployed to the affected areas, but their progress has been hampered by blocked highways and damaged bridges. Aerial footage showed rescue workers using shovels and their bare hands to dig through debris, while medical teams set up triage centers in open fields to treat the injured. The Red Cross has appealed for blood donations and emergency supplies.

The Colombian government has declared a state of

The Colombian government has declared a state of emergency in the affected departments, and President Gustavo Petro has pledged federal funds for reconstruction. In a televised address, he urged calm, saying, "We will not rest until every missing person is accounted for and every victim is cared for." Meanwhile, neighboring countries, including Ecuador and Panama, have offered assistance.

Seismologists noted that this was the strongest quake to hit Colombia in decades, and aftershocks continue to rattle the region, keeping residents on edge. Many survivors spent the night in makeshift shelters, fearing further collapses of damaged structures. The full scale of the destruction is still being assessed, but officials warn that the death toll could climb as more remote communities are reached.