earthquake in a decade killed at least 132 people and destroyed dozens of buildings. The 7.4-magnitude quake struck Colombia's western region shortly after 7:30 am, sending panicked residents into the streets. The death toll stood at 132, with over 570 injured, according to the Colombian Association of Capital Cities.

President Abelardo de la Espriella—just three days into his presidency—declared a state of emergency and promised a coordinated rescue effort, revising the earlier death count of 111. Pereira, among the hardest-hit cities, was plunged into darkness by power outages overnight as volunteers probed collapsed buildings for signs of life. "We're without power. This seems honestly like a zombie city”, said resident Juan David Gaitan. Tattoo artist Andres Hernandez feared structures around him were "on the verge of collapsing," recalling how the quake devastated the coffee-growing region's heartland. He described it as "a movie scene" as poles and cables swayed violently. Destruction ravaged several cities. In Manizales, the quake crumpled a tower of the city's beloved neo-Gothic cathedral. In Quibdo, officials said public services and communications had "virtually shut down"; residents ran out naked or jumped from second-floor windows. "People were praying in the street. It was overwhelming”, recalled dentist Julian Pena, while noting many buildings bore cracks or had completely collapsed.

The quake, at a depth of 110 kilometers, was felt across Colombia—including Bogota, where crowds fled in pajamas—and in neighboring Ecuador and Panama. US Geological Survey experts attributed it to movement along a deep fault in the Nazca tectonic plate. Hospitals in five cities went on red alert, a curfew was declared in Cali, and at least six airports suspended operations. Shakira led calls for unity, writing, "All my strength and love to my homeland. Let's hold each other tight." In Cali, volunteers worked with picks and bare hands. "Getting here was unbelievable. It felt like the end of the world”, said volunteer Nelson Moreno, requesting flashlights and goggles for overnight rescues. Rescuers formed human chains, stopping to listen for trapped survivors. (Bssnews)