M7.4 quake in Colombia kills at least 24 people

A magnitude 7.4 earthquake struck Colombia on Monday, with its epicenter near San Jose del Palmar, Choco Department, at a depth of 107 kilometers, according to the USGS. The death toll reached at least 24 people: four people, including three children, were reported dead in Valle del Cauca, 18 people were killed in Pereira, and two people died in Manizales. In Cali, 19 buildings were reported to have collapsed, and rescue teams were still working because residents were believed trapped under the debris. The shaking also disrupted communications in Cali, Pereira and Bogota, making emergency lines difficult to reach. Several residential buildings, two hospitals, several schools and a church were reported damaged. The quake was also felt in Ecuador and Panama.