A 7.4 magnitude earthquake hit western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 111 people, damaging hundreds of structures and trapping many under rubble as families and responders searched the debris. Teams and volunteers cleared remains of collapsed buildings in Cali, the nation’s third-largest city, passing concrete fragments along lines of helpers. One resident described his building as ruined and the neighboring one as fully destroyed. The quake also struck Pereira, Quibdo and Manizales, and was felt in Ecuador and Panama. Its center was near San Jose del Palmar in the Choco region, about 250 miles west of Bogota. The president reported 87 injuries and damage to around 1,600 buildings, with 61 fully collapsed, and declared an emergency to speed recovery funds. The geological service called it the strongest quake in Colombia this century, followed by aftershocks. The area lies on the Ring of Fire. Death counts included 40 in Risaralda, 27 in Valle del Cauca including three children, nine in Choco, two in Caldas and one in Antioquia. Remote Choco saw limited reports due to poor access. Many residents reported missing relatives, echoing recent events in Venezuela.
