Major quake rocks Colombia and neighbors, 18 confirmed dead

A powerful earthquake rocked Colombia and neighboring Latin American countries on Monday, with at least 18 people confirmed dead in first reports.

Shocked residents surveyed destroyed buildings as emergency teams rushed to help victims and search for survivors in the rubble.

How strong was the Colombia earthquake?

Geologists recorded the quake at a magnitude of 7.4, with an epicentre 100 km (60 miles) deep in western Colombia. The early morning quake was also felt in Ecuador, Panama and Venezuela, and prompted building evacuations in the Colombian capital Bogota, AFP reporters saw.

News footage showed collapsed buildings across western Colombia, though officials said they did not fear a tsunami. At least 18 people were killed in the city of Pereira alone, Mayor Mauricio Salazar told Caracol Radio, adding that "the situation is critical." The governor of Colombia's Choco province wrote on X that there was serious damage in the provincial capital Quibdo, where video showed collapsed buildings.

Which Colombian cities were hit hardest?

Choco was at the epicentre of the quake, and the death toll from the area was not immediately known. Alejandro Eder, mayor of Cali, Colombia's third largest city, reported at least 20 buildings had collapsed with people trapped, describing "major damage" that was being evaluated with drones. News outlets also aired images of buildings destroyed in cities such as Manizales.

"There is no electricity or cell phone coverage. It was strong, really strong. Things fell in my house," said Martha Estrada, a 66 year old resident of Eje Cafetero, the coffee growing region. "The quake was very, very strong," said Valeria Polo, a 29 year old content creator in Bogota.

How has Colombia responded to the earthquake?

Six small airports in western Colombia suspended operations, the civil aeronautics agency said. Bogota Mayor Carlos Galan said on Blu Radio that damage in the national capital appeared limited to cracks in the facades of houses and buildings. President Abelardo de la Espriella announced he would travel to the quake hit region.

In Bogota, people ran into the street in their pajamas as emergency sirens rang out, AFP reporters saw. The quake follows twin earthquakes in Venezuela of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5 on June 24, which killed more than 6,000 people and caused devastating property damage.