Watch: Buildings crumble, debris rains down as 7.4-magnitude quake hits Colombia
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia, resulting in at least 132 deaths and hundreds of injuries. Emergency services are currently conducting search and rescue operations amidst widespread building collapses.
Why it matters
The event highlights the extreme vulnerability of regions along the 'Ring of Fire' to seismic activity and the resulting humanitarian crisis.
Dramatic videos showing people running for their lives as buildings collapse in clouds of dust and debris have emerged from Colombia after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck the country's west on Monday, killing at least 132 people and injuring more than 570.The earthquake struck at 7:34 am local time, with its epicentre in the western department of Chocó. Hundreds of buildings were damaged, while at least 61 reportedly collapsed completely. The government declared a national disaster and deployed soldiers to support rescue operations.Videos shared on social media showed the scale of the destruction. In Pereira, footage showed a building collapsing as people ran for cover, with clouds of dust and debris engulfing the area.Another video showed residents fleeing as a second structure collapsed.
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