Death toll rises in Colombia after magnitude 7.4 earthquake

Emergency response operations continue across Colombia after a magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck the western region near San José del Palmar, causing extensive structural collapse and prompting a national state of emergency. Tremors were also felt across the border in Ecuador.

Casualty figures have risen steadily as rescue crews access heavily damaged communities. While initial reports cited 20 fatalities, subsequent updates from Digi24 and Ziarul de Gardă placed the toll at at least 132 dead and more than 500 injured. Moldova1 later reported confirmed deaths had reached at least 164.

Military personnel and emergency teams remain focused on locating survivors potentially trapped beneath the rubble of collapsed buildings, while local authorities arrange urgent shelter and humanitarian assistance for displaced families.

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