Colombia Quake Kills at Least 20, Causes 'Major Damage'

A powerful earthquake measuring 7.4 in magnitude struck western Colombia on Monday, killing at least 20 people, authorities said. The quake caused what officials described as 'major damage' across the affected region, with buildings collapsing and residents trapped under debris in several towns.

The tremor was strong enough to prompt evacuations in Bogota, the capital, as residents fled offices and apartment buildings as a precaution. Emergency crews were dispatched to search for survivors and clear rubble, though authorities have not yet given a full account of the number of people still missing or trapped.

The quake was felt well beyond Colombia's borders, with tremors reported in neighboring Ecuador and as far away as Panama, underscoring the scale of the seismic event. Colombia sits along the Pacific Ring of Fire, a region prone to frequent seismic activity, and authorities said search-and-rescue operations were continuing as the full extent of the damage was assessed.