Major Earthquake Strikes Colombia couple of days ago , Killing at Least 169 and Injuring 900
At least 169 people have been killed and a state of emergency declared after one of Colombia’s strongest earthquakes in recent years struck the country couple of days back
The death toll is expected to increase, as rescue teams continue searching for people believed to be trapped beneath collapsed structures. The magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Chocó province at 07:34 local time (12:34 GMT) at a depth of 103km (64 miles), according to Colombia’s geological service. Powerful tremors were felt across a vast area of western Colombia, hundreds of miles from the epicentre.
Cali, the country’s third-largest city, has reported a significant number of casualties. Colombia’s Association of Capital Cities (Asocapitales) said at least 900 people were injured in the earthquakes.
In Pereira, located in Colombia’s coffee-growing region, 66 people were reported dead. Videos verified by the BBC showed a building collapsing in Plaza Bolívar, the city’s main square, sending debris and clouds of dust across the area where large crowds had gathered.
Several regional airports have also suffered damage, according to the country’s aviation authority. The affected airports include those in Pereira, Manizales, Quibdó, Armenia, Cartago and Buenaventura.
In Bogotá, the capital, trees and traffic lights were seen shaking violently. Cracks were reported in some buildings, although there have so far been no reports of major damage to the city’s infrastructure.
The earthquake was powerful enough to be felt in neighbouring Venezuela, Ecuador and Panama, highlighting the enormous reach of the tremors.

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