Earthquake with 7.4 magnitude hits Colombia, killing at least 20

What the report says

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, with its epicenter near San Jose del Palmar in the Choco region, about 400km west of Bogota, according to the US Geological Survey and Colombia’s geological service, as reported by Al Jazeera. The quake was felt in neighbouring countries and led to evacuations and an assessment of damage by emergency teams.

Authorities said the tremor occurred at a depth of about 107km and did not trigger a tsunami warning. In Choco, Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi said there were injuries and significant damage in Quibdo, while officials in Colombia and Ecuador urged residents to stay alert for aftershocks. In the capital, Bogota, people moved into the streets after alarms sounded, but Mayor Carlos Galan said there were no reports of injuries there and only minor building cracks.

Al Jazeera reported that footage showed damage in cities including Pereira and Manizales in Colombia’s coffee-growing Eje Cafetero region. The mayor of Pereira said 18 people died there, and AP reported two deaths in Manizales, bringing the reported toll to at least 20. The quake adds to a period of major seismic disasters in the region and underscores the vulnerability of buildings and communities across a wide area.