A 7.4 magnitude earthquake in Colombia has killed at least 164 people and injured hundreds of others.
The quake struck the country's Chocó region on Monday (local time).
Many of the deaths have been reported in Colombia's coffee-growing region, in the country's central-west.
Newly elected Colombian President Abelardo De La Espriella has declared a national disaster.
“Colombia is united and we will move forward together,”
he said.
The death toll is expected to rise, with many feared trapped beneath collapsed buildings as the search for survivors continues.
Background
The 7.4 magnitude quake struck at a depth of 107 km and was felt across most major Colombian cities, and as far as Ecuador and Panama.
It’s Colombia’s worst quake since 1999, when 1,171 people died in the same region.
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Colombia sits at the intersection of three tectonic plates: the Caribbean, Nazca and South American.
On average, there are 151 earthquakes per year.
It comes after twin quakes hit neighbouring Venezuela in June, killing more than 6,300 people.
Latest
More than 160 people are confirmed to have died in the quake, including at least 85 in the city of Cali – which has a population of 2.2 million.
The Colombian Association of Capital Cities estimates at least 570 people are injured.
It also reported 86 collapsed buildings, with damage recorded at hospitals, universities, airports, and to public transport.
The Colombian Government has declared a national disaster, with President Abelardo De La Espriella announcing humanitarian aid and rental subsidies.
De La Espriella, who was sworn in as leader on 7 August, said “the first priority is rescuing the people trapped under the rubble”.
He promised his government would deploy all of its capabilities “to protect lives, assist affected communities and deliver aid wherever it is needed”.
