Nathalie Jimenez

Isabel Gomez runs a small gift shop in Cali, next to a five-story building that collapsed entirely when the earthquake struck. All of the families who lived there are now homeless.

"We don't have food, water, power," she says.

Gomez, a native of the city, has spent the day broadcasting live from the site, amassing thousands of views, as rescue teams work through the rubble.

In her videos, she holds up a handwritten sign with the location of the collapse, appealing for help. "They're calling for more people to help in the rubble, but no one is answering," she says, her voice breaking, in one of her livestreams.

Five people - all from one family - have been pulled out alive so far.

With phone signal patchy and no power in the area, Gomez has become an informal point of contact for hundreds of anxious relatives trying to find out whether their loved ones have been found.

Using pen and paper, she is keeping a handwritten list of everyone rescued nearby, in case she runs out of battery on her phone, she says.

Rescuers believe a young girl may still be trapped inside, and are listening for any sign of life beneath the debris.

"It's a tragedy bigger than anything we've seen," she says. "We really need help."

Image source, Getty Images

Colombia's location at the intersection of several tectonic plates makes it an area prone to strong seismic activity and, therefore, to high-intensity earthquakes.

Earthquakes are generally stronger along subduction zones, located near the coast.

Since 1950, more than 3,500 people have died as a direct result of earthquakes in Colombia. The deadliest occurred in 1999, when a magnitude 6.2 earthquake struck the Coffee Region, leaving 1,185 dead.

More recently, last year, a magnitude 6.3 earthquake struck Cundinamarca. There were no fatalities.

Daisy Noble is from London and is currently travelling in Colombia with her husband and returned to Medellin from the Chocó region, where the earthquake hit, on Sunday.

She says her husband woke her up when the earthquake struck, telling the BBC: "I realised the whole building was rocking backwards and forwards as if we were on a boat - a very confusing and alarming feeling."

Daisy used her phone to research what they should do and they stayed in their hotel room, not knowing if it would pass or become worse.

"Thankfully, our modern hotel building was unharmed, but many people working in our hotel told us that their buildings had been evacuated and that there was damage in the comunas in the city, where the buildings are not of robust construction," she says.

"It was the most surreal experience. My heart goes out to those in the most seriously affected areas."

Images from Colombia show buildings reduced to rubble by the 7.4-magnitude earthquake that struck earlier on Monday.

The official death toll so far sits at least 111 people, with a further 87 injured - while search and rescue operations continue.

Image source, EPA

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, EPA

Image source, Getty Images

Alejandro Eder, the mayor of Cali, around 200km from the Colombian earthquake's epicentre, as told the BBC that the city has had "32 confirmed building collapses".

Emergency crews have been able to rescue 38 people so far, but some had died, Eder tells BBC World Service's Newshour.

He said he could not confirm the number of casualties because the "search and rescue phase" had turned into "a needle in a haystack exercise" as the city had "held up quite well".

He added that the city's search and rescue teams were "very well trained" and had recently been part of the Venezuela quake relief effort.

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

Colombia's vice-president says his country's government is "working tirelessly" to "stand by every community struck by this tragedy".

In a post on X, José Manuel Restrepo Abondano acknowledges "the support of our international allies who have responded with solidarity and commitment".

"We will not rest until that aid reaches every family that needs it and contributes to the recovery of the affected territories," he says.

"Today the world extends a hand to #Colombia."

Image source, Reuters

The earthquake that led to widespread disruption and more than 100 deaths in Colombia caused 1.5 million people to experience "very strong" shakes severe enough to "damage to unreinforced masonry buildings", according to the US Geological Survey (USGC).

It says the 7.4-magnitude earthquake originated at an "intermediate depth" of around 100km (62 miles) within the "slab of old seafloor sinking beneath the South American continent".

These intermediate depth, "interslab" quakes are generally less dangerous than quakes of the same magnitude that occur closer to the surface, it says.

However, the USGS adds that due to the nature of the fault, the energy that will have been released is at "frequencies that are damaging to buildings".

Image source, EPA/Shutterstock

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen says the bloc is using its Copernicus satellite system to help with Colombia's rescue operations but is "ready to provide more support".

"Europe’s heart is with the people of Colombia after the terrible earthquake in the Chocó region," she adds.

Dan Cutler, 29, is from London but has been in Colombia for around two months as part of a big trip with his partner.

He is currently in Cali, south of where the earthquake struck, and tells the BBC he was woken by the earthquake, saying: "I've never experienced anything like it."

"We sprinted outside in our pyjamas. There's no major structural damage to the hotel, but there are surface cracks in the walls, and paint and plaster have peeled off," he says.

"Other areas of the city have been shut down, the power is out, and there are signs of weaker structures having been destroyed."

Image source, Courtesy of Dan Cutler

Buildings collapsed and landmark sites clouded in debris in Pereirapublished at 20:22 BST

20:22 BST

By Richard Irvine-Brown and Kumar Malhotra

Between Cali and Manizales, and 55km (35 miles) from the estimated epicentre of the quake is the city of Pereira, in the heart of Colombia's coffee growing region.

Videos we've verified show the extent of damage across the city.

At Bolivar Square, the main plaza at the heart of Pereira, footage shows at least one building collapsing, sending debris and dust across the open space where many people had gathered.

To the east, another building, a four-storey apartment building teeters then collapses at the junction of Calle 8 and 13.

Other footage shows at least one building collapsed in the more recently developed neighbourhood near Avenida Belalcazar.

Image source, X

Image source, Getty Images

European leaders are pledging support for Colombia following news of the devastating earthquake.

"I extend, on behalf of France, my most sincere thoughts to the Colombian people," says French President Emmanuel Macron. "In this ordeal, Colombia can count on our friendship and our support."

Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez also offers "affection and solidarity", saying that his country "stands with Colombia" at this difficult time.

Giorgia Meloni, Italy's prime minister, says she is "anxiously" following updates: "In these difficult hours, Italy stands in solidarity with the Colombian people, the affected families, and all those engaged in rescue and assistance operations."

And rounding out European reaction to the "terrible news" is Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who says his country also stands in "full support". "We call on everyone around the world who can support the affected people and countries right now to step up and help."

BBC Mundo

Journalist and meteorologist Luis Felipe Molina grew up and has lived most of his life in the city of Manizales in Colombia’s coffee region - roughly 150km (93 miles) from where the earthquake struck.

He was six when a deadly earthquake hit Colombia on 25 January, 1999 and became interested in understanding the science behind them as a result.

He tells BBC Mundo that major earthquakes have happened in the area with a certain regularity. Before 1999, there were ones in 1962 and 1979.

As a result, Manizales has “very strict seismic-resistant building regulations”.

Evidence of this is the fact that the 17-storey building where he lives remained standing despite the tremendous force that shook it on Monday morning.

“Everything in my flat was moving. Through the window, the surrounding buildings were shaking from side to side. I have 450 books and only a few were left standing on the shelves. You could hear glass breaking and people screaming,” Molina said.

“I had never seen anything like it. The seismic waves were not constant but came in powerful surges that struck with enormous force.”

The Metropolitan Basilica Cathedral of Our Lady of the Rosary in Manizales also remained standing, according to images circulating on social media – although one of its towers was visibly damaged.

“The cathedral is very old. It was built by Europeans and was not designed to modern seismic-resistance standards, but it remained standing,” said Molina.

“It was a terrible and terrifying experience.”

The death toll in Colombia's earthquake has now reached 111, according to President Abelardo De La Espriella.

At least a further 87 people have been injured, he adds.

The Colombian government has declared a national emergency following an earthquake that has caused widespread damage and seen dozens killed.

The 7-4.magnitude hit the western region of the country at 07:34 (12:34 GMT) on Monday, with its epicentre in the country's Chocó region.

Image source, Getty Images

Pop star Shakira says her heart is with "everyone who felt this earthquake today".

The Colombian singer also pays tribute to "families going through moments of anguish" as she offers "strength and love for my homeland".

"In times like these, we Colombians know how to come together and support one another," she writes on X.

"Let's embrace tightly and stay tuned to the instructions so we can help as soon as possible."

The leaders of some of Colombia's near neighbours have pledged their support following the massive 7.4 earthquake that struck on Monday morning.

Nayib Bukele, El Salvador's president, says he's in communication with officials in Colombia and is "ready to provide immediate support with our rescue teams, medical personnel, paramedics, supplies, or any other assistance that our Colombian brothers and sisters deem necessary".

Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa Azin also pledges support, offering 47 rescuers, specialized dogs, and equipment with autonomy to operate for 7 days.

"We are ready to mobilize whenever you require," he writes on social media.

Mexico's Claudia Shienbaum echoes that sentiment.

"Of course, all the support that the people of Colombia may require; we'll be there."

The death toll is rising after the magnitude 7.4 earthquake in Colombia, though different media outlets have tallied different counts from various local officials.

At least 69 people have been killed so far, according to the AFP news agency. Reuters news agency reports 77 people have been killed.

The police director in the Colombian city of Pereira, Óscar Leonel Ochoa, tells Radio Caracol, "We have a preliminary count of 47 people dead. There are more than 60 or 70 collapsed buildings".

Nubia Carolina Cordoba-Curi, the governor of Chocó, said nine people were killed there and another 80 injured.

El Pais is reporting at least 80 people have been killed in the 7.4 magnitude quake.

You can see our earlier tally here.

Isabella Bull
BBC World Service

Image source, Angélica Ávila

Angélica Ávila is walking around the city centre in Manizales, not quite sure of where to go.

Cracks appeared in the walls of the hotel she had been staying at when the earthquake hit this morning, and she doesn't feel safe inside.

"Everyone was screaming... I saw dust coming out of the neighbouring buildings, and bricks were falling off the walls," she tells the BBC World Service's Outside Source.

At least two people have died in the city, where BBC Verify has authenticated footage of buildings that have collapsed.

"Every one or two buildings, there are bricks and [chunks of] wall paint," Ávila said.

"We don't know what to do."

Image source, Angélica Ávila

Image source, Angélica Ávila

Five of Colombia's airports remain closed to the public following the earthquake, according to Aeronáutica Civil, Colombia's civil aviation authority.

It says Pereira, Manizales, Armenia, Cartago, and Buenaventura airports are being used for only "medical and government" flights, while damage is assessed.

It adds that flights from Guillermo León Valencia Airport, in Popayán, remain "restricted" due to emissions from the Puracé volcano.

Aeronáutica Civil says it is assisting local authorities through its aviation firefighting and search and rescue teams, while also helping to assess damage to infrastructure.

It has also urged passengers whose scheduled flights have been affected to contact the respective airlines.