More than 70 killed after powerful earthquake hits western Colombia
A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, resulting in at least 77 deaths and significant infrastructure damage. Rescue efforts are underway as the new presidential administration faces its first major national crisis.
Why it matters
The disaster represents a significant humanitarian crisis and a major political challenge for the newly inaugurated Colombian government.
At least 77 people were killed after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia early on Monday, knocking down buildings across several cities and leaving others trapped in the rubble.
The quake struck just days after Abelardo De La Espriella was sworn in as president, thrusting the new administration into its first major crisis, with memories still fresh of devastating twin earthquakes in neighbouring Venezuela in June.
The 7.4 magnitude quake, according to the US Geological Survey, struck at a depth of 107km (66 miles) near San Jose del Palmar, in Choco, a sparsely populated province on Colombia's Pacific Coast, but was felt in major cities nationwide. "Significant casualties and damage are likely, and the disaster is potentially widespread," the agency warned.
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