A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 20 people and collapsing buildings across Pereira, Manizales, Cali and Quibdo. The epicentre was in San Jose del Palmar in Choco region. Rescue teams searched through debris as authorities warned of possible aftershocks and President Abelardo de la Espriella led the emergency response.

Colombia: At least 20 people were killed and dozens of buildings collapsed after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, trapping residents under debris and leaving several people injured.

The tremors prompted people to evacuate their homes and were felt as far away as the capital, Bogota, as well as neighbouring Ecuador.

Epicentre In Choco Region

The epicentre was in San Jose Del Palmar, a community of about 4,800 people in the Choco region, about 400 kilometres west of Bogota, according to the US Geological Survey (USGS) and its Colombian counterpart.