Deadly 7.4-Magnitude Earthquake Strikes Western Colombia, Leaving Over 100 Dead

Rescue crews and local residents in Cali, Colombia's

Rescue crews and local residents in Cali, Colombia's third-largest city, combed through the wreckage of collapsed structures on Wednesday, carefully handing down chunks of concrete and debris along a chain of volunteers.

The powerful earthquake, which struck western Colombia with a magnitude of 7.4, has claimed at least 111 lives, according to official reports. The tremor hit in the early hours, catching many people asleep and causing widespread panic across the region.

In Cali, the hardest-hit urban center, entire blocks of residential buildings crumbled into piles of twisted metal and shattered brick. Emergency teams worked through the night, using heavy machinery and bare hands to search for survivors trapped beneath the rubble.

Elsewhere in the affected zone, including smaller towns

Elsewhere in the affected zone, including smaller towns and rural communities near the epicenter, the quake triggered landslides that blocked roads and cut off access to isolated areas. Authorities say the death toll could rise as rescue operations continue.

Local hospitals have been overwhelmed, treating hundreds of injured residents, many with serious wounds from falling debris. Medical staff reported shortages of blood supplies and urged citizens to donate.

The Colombian government has declared a state of emergency in the affected departments, deploying military units to assist in recovery efforts. President Gustavo Petro addressed the nation, pledging swift aid and reconstruction support for devastated communities.

As aftershocks continue to rattle the region, many

As aftershocks continue to rattle the region, many families are spending the night in open parks and streets, fearing more collapses. Volunteers, from university students to shopkeepers, have formed human chains to clear debris and deliver food and water to survivors.

International offers of assistance have begun to arrive, with neighboring countries and global agencies pledging search-and-rescue teams and financial aid. For now, the focus remains on finding the missing and comforting the grieving in a region grappling with one of its deadliest natural disasters in decades.