Kathmandu— A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck western Colombia near the municipality of San Jose del Palmar in the Choco region on Monday, impacting neighboring countries and triggering evacuations as far away as the capital, Bogota. The quake, initially reported at a magnitude of 6.6 by Colombian authorities, occurred at a depth of approximately 107km (66 miles) according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). As of Tuesday, reports indicate at least 20 fatalities and significant structural damage in several cities as emergency teams continue assessing the full extent of the disaster.

Earthquake Impacts Multiple Cities

The earthquake was felt across a wide area, prompting immediate responses from authorities. Choco Governor Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi reported concerns about aftershocks and significant damage to buildings in Quibdo, the department’s capital, stating on X that a damage assessment was underway. In Bogota, car and building alarms were activated as residents evacuated into the streets; however, Mayor Carlos Galán reported no injuries or serious structural damage, offering resources to affected areas.

News outlets showed footage of destroyed buildings in Pereira and Manizales, located in the Eje Cafetero tourist region. The mayor of Pereira confirmed 18 deaths within the city limits, while two fatalities were reported in Manizales. In Medellin, evacuation sirens sounded as residents fled their homes, though no full collapses or casualties were immediately reported; Mayor Federico Gutierrez suspended metro operations for safety inspections.

Cali Faces Significant Damage and Casualties

The city of Cali, southwest of Bogota, experienced particularly severe consequences from the earthquake. Authorities confirmed at least 25 buildings had collapsed, with a minimum of one casualty reported. Mayor Alejandro Eder established a Unified Command Center to coordinate relief efforts and requested assistance from neighboring cities Medellin and Bogota.

Regional Context: Recent Seismic Activity

This earthquake follows closely on the heels of two powerful earthquakes that struck Venezuela in late June, resulting in over 6,000 deaths and widespread destruction. Those tremors, measuring 7.2 and 7.5 in magnitude, were among the deadliest to hit the region in recent years.

Emergency teams are continuing to assess damage and provide assistance to affected communities as aftershocks remain a concern. The full extent of the devastation is still being determined.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.