A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake has struck Colombia, causing severe destruction and leaving at least 111 people dead. The massive tremor stands as the country's largest earthquake in years, inflicting a heavy toll on affected regions as the casualty count continues to surpass 100. Local and international news outlets have reported widespread disruption following the powerful seismic activity.
The earthquake caused structural collapses across the impacted areas, sending debris raining down into streets as buildings crumbled under the force of the tremors. Search and rescue operations are currently underway, with emergency teams and citizens sifting through the wreckage to locate missing persons. Rescue workers face challenging conditions as they attempt to reach survivors trapped beneath the fallen structures.
The catastrophe presents an immediate crisis for Colombia's political leadership, striking just days after the nation's new president took office. Managing the emergency response, search operations, and long-term recovery will be an urgent priority for the newly established government. Given the extent of the loss of life, the disaster is already being recognized among the deadliest earthquakes to hit Latin America.