Powerful Earthquake Kills Dozens in Colombia
A powerful magnitude-7.4 earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least forty-seven people, trapping others under rubble and causing serious damage, officials said. The quake, centred in the Chocó region some 250 miles west of Bogotá, sent people fleeing into the streets in cities across the country. The death toll was expected to rise.
The tremor was among the most powerful to hit Colombia in years, toppling buildings in a mountainous region where rescue is difficult and aftershocks a constant threat. Buildings swayed and were evacuated as far away as Bogotá, Cali and Medellín, and emergency crews rushed to reach the worst-hit towns. Colombia sits on the seismically active edge of the South American plate, where earthquakes are frequent but rarely this strong. The scale of the damage and the toll were still being assessed as night fell. Watch for the confirmed casualty figures as rescuers reach the epicentre.