Colombian president pledges full response as rescuers search for survivors
A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 132 people and injuring more than 570 as of Monday afternoon, according to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities, which coordinates cities across the country.
The US and Colombian geological surveys reported that the quake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time with its epicenter in the western department of Chocó.
The quake collapsed and severely damaged scores of buildings in main cities, including Cali and Pereira. In Pereira, rescuers searched for survivors in the rubble of a collapsed building on Monday.
The tremor was felt in neighboring Venezuela, which is still reeling from a deadly double earthquake on June 24.
In a national address, Colombia’s president, Abelardo de la Espriella, said: “The national government has all of its capabilities deployed to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver aid wherever it is needed. The first priority is rescuing the people trapped under the rubble. Colombia has a president whose heart aches for his people and who will do everything in his power to help them in the most difficult moments.”