Death toll climbs past 160 after magnitude 7.4 earthquake hits Colombia

Emergency search and rescue teams in Colombia continue scouring the rubble of collapsed buildings following a powerful magnitude 7.4 earthquake that struck near San José del Palmar in the west of the country. A national state of emergency has been declared as authorities work to shelter displaced residents and locate survivors.

Casualty assessments have risen sharply as emergency workers reach damaged communities. While initial reports indicated dozens of casualties, Digi24 and Ziarul de Gardă cited at least 132 deaths and more than 500 injuries. Moldova1 later reported that confirmed fatalities reached at least 164. Officials warn the death toll is expected to grow further, with hundreds of people still feared trapped beneath debris. The tremor was also felt across neighboring Ecuador.

Sources: Adevărul, Digi24, HotNews, Moldova1, Ziarul de Gardă.