7.4-magnitude earthquake kills at least 111 in western Colombia

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people and injuring at least 87, according to Colombian and U.S. geological agencies. The epicenter was located in San José del Palmar, a rural community in Chocó province about 250 miles west of Bogotá, and the tremor was followed by a magnitude 5.0 aftershock less than an hour later.

The death toll was highest in neighboring provinces, with at least 40 fatalities reported in Risaralda, 27 in Valle del Cauca, and 12 in Chocó. Additional deaths were confirmed in Caldas, Antioquia and other regions. More than 10.5 million people felt strong to very strong shaking, and evacuations were ordered as far away as the capital, Bogotá.

"You are not alone," President Abelardo de la Espriella said in a video message, pledging government assistance.

Cities such as Cali, Pereira, Manizales and Quibdó saw collapsed buildings and ongoing rescue operations. Cali’s mayor reported 30 structures that had collapsed, while Pereira’s mayor said at least 18 people had died and many remained trapped under rubble. In Manizales, 17 buildings collapsed and a cathedral tower fell onto the nave.

Air travel was disrupted, with flights suspended at airports in Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura. No structural damage was reported in Bogotá.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio posted that the United States was monitoring the disaster and stood ready to support Colombia. Humanitarian groups in South Florida and other U.S. locations began mobilizing aid for rescue and recovery efforts.