A powerful earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, killing at least 18 people in the western town of Pereira and causing injuries and building damage, with evacuations reported in the capital, Bogota. The quake was felt across part of Latin America, including Ecuador, Panama, and Venezuela.
Colombia's geological service measured the quake at magnitude 6.6, while the US Geological Survey put it at 7.4. The tremor caused what France 24 described as "major damage" in the affected areas.
Authorities have not yet provided a full account of injuries or the extent of destruction beyond the confirmed deaths in Pereira. The quake prompted people in Bogota to evacuate buildings as a precaution, though no casualties have been reported there.
The earthquake was felt strongly in neighboring Ecuador and Panama, and tremors also reached Venezuela, according to reports. Officials in those countries have not reported significant damage or casualties so far.
Rescue and assessment efforts are likely under way, but the reports do not specify further details on the ground. Colombia sits in a seismically active region, and earthquakes of this size can cause serious damage in urban areas.