Colombia Earthquake: 100 Dead, Buildings Collapsed

A 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck Colombia, killing more than 100 people and bringing down dozens of buildings across the country's southwest, with rescuers still pulling survivors from rubble in Cali, one of Colombia's largest cities, according to The Guardian.

The collapse was not uniform — some structures fell immediately, others crumbled in the minutes that followed, and it is that second wave of destruction that has complicated rescue operations on the ground. Emergency teams have been working through unstable debris while aftershocks continue to register across the region, forcing repeated evacuations of partially damaged buildings that remain occupied.

Cali, a city of roughly 2.2 million people, bore the heaviest toll. Reports indicate that multiple residential blocks and at least one hospital facility sustained severe structural damage. Thousands of residents have been displaced, with temporary shelters established in open spaces away from compromised buildings. Colombian President Gustavo Petro declared a national state of emergency and requested international assistance, with regional governments in Ecuador and Peru placed on alert for any cross-border humanitarian coordination.

The death toll is expected to rise as search teams reach neighborhoods where communications remain cut. Colombia sits along one of the most seismically active corridors in South America, and geological agencies confirmed the epicenter was located at relatively shallow depth — a factor that amplifies surface destruction significantly. International aid organizations, including the Red Cross, have mobilised response teams toward the affected zone.

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*By Isla Camilleri — Global Affairs & Lifestyle Editor, News Beast by FreeMalta.com*