BOGOTÁ — A powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday morning, killing at least 111 people and causing widespread damage across several regions, according to authorities and seismic monitoring agencies.

The earthquake struck at 7:34 a.m. local time near San José del Palmar in the department of Chocó. Colombia’s Geological Service later reported a depth of about 103 kilometers, while USGS data placed the depth at roughly 107 kilometers. The Colombian agency described it as the strongest earthquake recorded in the country during the 21st century at the time of its initial assessment.

The shaking was felt across a large part of Colombia, including Bogotá, as well as neighboring countries. More than 1,600 buildings were reported damaged in the initial assessments, with dozens collapsing completely.

Cali, Colombia’s third-largest city, was among the hardest-hit areas. Multiple buildings collapsed, leaving people trapped beneath the rubble. Hospitals and other medical facilities were also evacuated or closed after sustaining structural damage.

Emergency crews rushed to affected areas to search for survivors. Rescue operations were complicated by damaged roads, buildings and other infrastructure, while aftershocks continued following the main earthquake.

President Abelardo de la Espriella, who had taken office only days earlier, declared a national disaster to allow additional resources to be mobilized for the affected regions. Government agencies, emergency teams and security forces were deployed to assist with rescue and recovery operations.

The earthquake also disrupted transportation. Airports in several cities, including Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura, were temporarily affected as authorities inspected facilities for structural damage.

In Bogotá, residents rushed outside as buildings shook and alarms sounded. Officials initially reported no major casualties in the capital, although some buildings developed cracks and residents were advised to remain alert for possible structural problems.

The disaster struck just weeks after powerful earthquakes hit neighboring Venezuela in June, killing thousands and displacing large numbers of people. The latest earthquake has therefore added to concerns about seismic risks across the northern part of South America.

Colombia’s geological authorities warned that aftershocks could continue. The national seismic network recorded numerous aftershocks following the main event and continued monitoring activity around Chocó and neighboring departments.

The humanitarian impact increased as authorities conducted more detailed assessments. A later Pan American Health Organization report recorded hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and tens of thousands of damaged or destroyed homes, illustrating how the scale of the disaster continued to become clearer in the weeks following the earthquake.

The earthquake has become one of Colombia’s most significant recent natural disasters, placing enormous pressure on emergency services while communities continue to search damaged neighborhoods and assess the safety of homes, hospitals and public infrastructure.

Sources: CNN — Powerful earthquake in Colombia kills more than 100 people