Colombia's earthquake death toll reaches 240, 1300 injured

• 7.4-magnitude quake kills 240 in Colombia.
• More than 1,300 injured as buildings collapse.
• President declares state of emergency.
• U.S., EU and UN pledge disaster aid.

Volunteers and emergency workers across western Colombia searched through piles of rubble on Tuesday, attempting to find survivors trapped after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake killed at least 240 people and injured over 1,300 others.

The earthquake -the strongest to strike Colombia in a century- hit at 7:34 a.m. on Monday.

The tremor was centered at a depth of 110 kilometers (68 miles) and was felt as far away as Ecuador, Panama, and the Colombian capital of Bogotá.

According to experts at the US Geological Survey, the quake was likely caused by movement along a deep fault within the Nazca tectonic plate.

Cities paralyzed

In Pereira, a city of over half a million, electricity was almost completely cut off, forcing many residents to spend the night sleeping on the streets due to damaged homes and fears of deadly aftershocks.

"Since yesterday we've been wondering what will become of our lives," said 38-year-old housewife Gloria Giraldo, whose neighborhood collapsed around her.

In Cali, volunteers equipped with picks, basic tools, and their hands formed human chains to clear masonry and debris. Rescuers frequently called for silence to listen for signs of life from victims beneath collapsed structures.

Volunteer Andres Felipe Mejia recalled a moment near a pancaked building where a trapped survivor whistled back, allowing rescuers to pull out a man and a baby while continuing efforts to reach the man's wife.

Hospitals across five Colombian cities were placed on red alert on Monday, and a nighttime curfew was imposed in Cali. In Manizales, the tower of a beloved neo-Gothic cathedral crumbled.

Meanwhile in Quibdó, capital of the Chocó department, local official Jenny Rivas reported that public services and communications were virtually shut down.

Government, international response

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella -just days into his tenure- declared a state of emergency and pledged a concerted, national rescue effort. Visiting Pereira on Tuesday, De la Espriella promised rent subsidies for those displaced by the disaster.

The tragedy follows less than two months after powerful twin quakes in neighboring Venezuela killed more than 6,300 people. International support mobilized quickly following the catastrophe:

• United States: The administration of US President Donald Trump announced $15.5 million in emergency relief aid.
• United Nations: Secretary-General António Guterres offered condolences and confirmed the UN is supporting government-led response efforts.
• Vatican: Pope Leo XIV expressed deep sadness and offered prayers for the swift recovery of those affected.
• Regional & International Aid: Offers of assistance and emergency aid arrived from the European Union, Israel, and Mexico.