At least 224 people were killed and hundreds remain missing after a powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia on Monday, with rescuers searching through collapsed buildings for survivors.
The quake, the strongest to hit Colombia this century according to the country's geological service, injured around 700 people and caused widespread damage in cities including Cali, Pereira, Quibdo and Manizales.
The epicentre was near San Jose del Palmar in the Choco region, about 400 km (250 miles) west of the capital Bogota, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The number of missing people remains unclear. More than 1,400 names had been entered into online missing-person databases by Monday afternoon, mainly from Cali and Pereira.
In Cali, at least 20 buildings collapsed and hundreds were damaged, while rescue teams and volunteers searched through the rubble by hand. Parts of a hospital also collapsed, forcing around 600 patients to receive treatment outside the building.
The government declared a state of emergency and launched rescue operations across the affected areas. The European Union said it would activate its Copernicus satellite system to support the response, while the United States offered $15.5 million in assistance.
The earthquake was also felt in neighbouring Ecuador and Panama. Authorities reported dozens of aftershocks following the main tremor.
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