Colombia earthquake: At least 50 dead, people trapped in collapsed buildings, officials say

Dozens of people are dead after a 7.4-magnitude earthquake rocked western Colombia on Monday, officials said.

The earthquake’s epicenter was 5 kilometers east of San José del Palmar, Colombia, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

At least 50 people are dead, according to Colombia’s presidential office, which earlier said most of the fatalities were reported in the hard-hit city of Pereira. Three children died in the Valle del Cauca department, whose capital, Cali, is also among the most impacted cities, the office said.

In Cali, at least 20 buildings collapsed and people were trapped, according to the mayor. A rescue effort was ongoing in a building where at least 15 people were trapped, according to officials.

The governor of Chuco said there were injuries and “severe damage” to buildings in the department’s capital city of Quibdo.

Seven airports have suspended their services, in the cities of Armenia, Cali, Manizales, Pereira, Quibdo, Buenaventura and Cartago.

There have not been any reports of collapsed buildings in the capital of Bogota, officials said.

Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella said in a video on social media that he was headed to Bogota to “focus on addressing the emergency facing our country” and has convened a unified command post to respond to the affected areas, including what’s known as the Coffee-Growers’ Axis.

The Trump administration is “closely monitoring” the earthquake and stands “ready” to support the people of Colombia, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement.